Embedded Files
Voters deny referendum.
Mount olive township
Bond referendum
VOTERS DENY REFERENDUM
Voters did not approve Mount Olive’s proposal to borrow $61.8 million for facility updates, according to unofficial results.
The tally as of Tuesday night included 980 votes in favor and 1567 opposed for Question 1 and 850 votes in favor and 1689 opposed for Question 2. The totals will change over the next few days as officials count mail-in ballots that were postmarked by the election date and verify provisional ballots.
The district administration and Board of Education will carefully consider feedback from the community and the outcome of the referendum as we determine how to best proceed with addressing our facility needs. We appreciate the time our community members took to learn about the proposed projects and vote.
A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE
There is no doubt that Mount Olive School District students are well prepared for the future; our district ranks among the top in New Jersey and nationwide. We must periodically invest in our schools’ infrastructure and improve facilities to continue supporting the high level of education the Mount Olive community values, as well as to attract stellar teachers and staff.
>>>WATCH THE VIDEO: MOTSD district leaders outline the proposed referendum projects and explain how they would improve the educational experience for students and staff, as well as the community members who visit our schools.
See the projects page for additional videos focused on the need for more instructional space and a Wellness Wing.
WHY A BOND REFERENDUM?
As partners in education with our community, we have a responsibility to be good stewards of tax dollars, and to plan and manage the district’s budget accordingly. Holding a bond referendum is grounded in careful planning and is a key component of the Board of Education’s responsible financial strategy.
A bond referendum is a vote that asks community members for permission to borrow money through the sale of bonds. This vote gives the community a voice and, if approved, would give the district a specific kind of state aid that reduces the share of local taxes. A voter-approved bond referendum is the only way to secure this type of state aid toward building projects. Taxpayers across New Jersey pay into this fund, but only districts with approved referenda receive money from it.
The Board of Education prioritizes the health, safety and modern instructional needs of our students. By selling bonds to get up-front funding and capture state aid, Mount Olive can make improvements more quickly than relying on the annual operating budget and without relying only on the local tax base.
PROPOSED PROJECTS
The Board of Education has taken important steps toward a bond proposal that focuses on necessities. The project list will be presented in two questions for voters to consider.
QUESTION 1: Infrastructure Updates and Upgraded Spaces
The projects in this question would address building updates that are necessary to continue supporting the district’s tradition of excellence. Every school would receive HVAC improvements and nearly every school would get new roofing. Key spaces at Mount Olive Middle School, Sandshore and Tinc Road would be expanded to accommodate our growing enrollment, support modern instructional standards and preserve Mount Olive’s small class sizes. These updates would benefit the schools, students, district and community for many years to come.
QUESTION 2: Improvements to Athletic and
Transportation Facilities
The projects proposed in Question 2 would bring updates to outdated athletic facilities and transportation buildings to continue offering every student the high-quality educational experience that our community has come to expect.
VIRTUAL INFORMATION FORUM
On Tuesday, Dec. 5, the Board of Education hosted a virtual, webinar-style information forum about the referendum.
Panelists included members of the district administration, the architect who helped develop the plan for Mount Olive’s bond referendum, and the advisers who estimated the financial details of this proposed investment.
Page updated
Report abuse