The municipality makes PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreements with developers who want to build in town without being subject to fluctuations in property taxes.  

Property taxes are the main source of funding for the district’s annual budget.  

The Board of Education has no authority to claim a portion of PILOT payments. Any allocation would have to come at the discretion of the municipality. 

Municipalities and school boards each have their own funding needs and priorities, but the board looks forward to working with the Township Council on the shared goal of continuing the high-quality educational system that draws families to Princeton.  

If any PILOT allocation is made to Princeton Public Schools, it could potentially help fund the annual budget or be used to further reduce bond payments for referendum improvements that are partially reimbursed by state debt service aid.  

Even if the DLI track ended, Community Park would not be able to accommodate the current student population along with the students coming from new developments and turnover in existing housing. The current gym, cafeteria, library and music rooms are too small even for the current enrollment.  

By adding an English-only track and more space, we could ensure this centrally located school is able to welcome as many neighborhood students as possible, including elementary school families who move to Princeton throughout the year. 

Expanding the two elementary schools – Community Park and Littlebrook – in the areas where most of the roughly 1,000 housing units are being built will reduce the need for redistricting. That means more students can walk and bike to school, avoiding long bus rides that also contribute to higher transportation costs. 

Staffing costs are tied to students, not space. The district is preparing for growth from new and existing housing, and the annual budget will cover staffing costs as needs arise.  

Without a voter-approved referendum to expand schools, more teachers would still be hired but could be instructing students in makeshift spaces, such as modular trailers (which also would have to be funded through the budget) or converted music rooms or computer labs. When space is tight, the need for classrooms bumps other types of instructional areas. 

The additions and renovations proposed through the referendum ensure students will continue learning in appropriate spaces, even as enrollment increases. For elementary school students, this would mean more students would have the opportunity to attend their neighborhood schools. 

Only one vote either way is needed to decide the election. The tally includes votes at the polls, and mail-in and provisional ballots. 

For this referendum, Question 2 can only go into effect if Question 1 passes, and Question 3 can only go into effect if Questions 1 and 2 pass.  

The projects in the referendum would allow the district to prepare for growth, maintain programming, and replace and rehabilitate end-of-life HVAC equipment. The referendum is structured into three questions because each addresses different needs. 

Question 1: Community Park Elementary School expansion/renovations and Princeton High School end-of-life HVAC replacement and rehabilitation

Cost: $37.9 million 

Estimated annual tax impact* of Question 1: $222 

Estimated debt service aid: $11.4 million

Question 2: Princeton Middle School expansion/renovations and Princeton High School renovations     

Cost: $38.3 million 

Estimated annual tax impact* of both Question 1 and Question 2: $447 

Estimated debt service aid for Q1 and Q2: $18.5 million

Question 3: Littlebrook Elementary School expansion/renovations    

Cost: $12.9 million
Estimated annual tax impact* of Questions 1, 2 and 3: $532

Estimated debt service aid for Q1, Q2 and Q3: $19.9 million

If Question 1 doesn’t pass, neither of the other questions can pass.

Question 2 can only pass if Question 1 passes, and Question 3 can only pass if Questions 1 and 2 pass

*The estimated tax impact is based on Princeton’s average assessed home value of $853,136.  

The Board and district leaders prioritized community engagement as they worked toward proposals to manage student capacity at the district’s six schools. The Board’s Long-Term Planning Committee has been working on the proposals for several years and provided many opportunities for community members to share input at virtual and in-person forums.   

Among other proposals, community members favored options that embraced the neighborhood school model. As a result, changes to Community Park and Littlebrook schools represented the best solution to meet the expected enrollment growth. These two schools are in the areas where most of the new housing is being built.  

Adding classrooms to Community Park and Littlebrook would result in balanced class sizes among all the elementary schools, including Johnson Park and Riverside, and ensure that more children can attend their neighborhood schools.

If the proposed improvements are not made, there will be significant impacts on students, staff, and the annual operating budget: 

• Class sizes would increase district-wide.

• Redistricting would be needed sooner and would impact more families.

• Modular classrooms (trailers) could be needed, and would be funded through the operating budget. At around $400,000 for one-time set-up costs and $50,000 for annual rental fees, each modular would place a significant strain on the budget.

• Spaces such as cafeterias and gyms would become more crowded. 

• Heating and cooling costs would be higher because of outdated equipment. 

• The ability to modernize learning would be limited.  

See more details on the home page of the website.  

The Westminster property has been discussed – and explored – as a possible location for district expansion since 2018. 

The municipality has announced its intention to purchase the Westminster site, but the sale is not yet approved and the timeline for availability still uncertain.

Student enrollment growth is imminent. The planning, approval and execution of school renovations take years to complete, and we need a definitive plan in place as we welcome more students and maintain our model of neighborhood schools and strong programming.

The Board of Education and district administrators methodically explored solutions over the past few years to modernize instructional spaces and prepare for enrollment growth.  

This process, which included extensive community input, culminated in sending a package of proposed projects for state review in July 2024.  

The state completed its aid determination in October, beyond the cutoff to hold a November referendum. The board voted to hold a referendum on the next state-authorized date of Jan. 28, 2025, so that the district could address needs for building improvements and expansion as quickly as possible.  A January vote allows the design and bidding process to begin in the spring, with a timeline for all construction to be completed by September 2028.

Like other school districts, we have used bond referendums as a mechanism to address capital building needs and to structure debt, while accessing state debt service aid to offset the amount required from property taxes. Recent referendums addressed safety and security, wellness and sustainability, major maintenance, and technology needs. 

The Board and district leaders have planned the current bond referendum for several years in anticipation of enrollment growth from new and existing housing. 

The Princeton community has always valued that Princeton Public Schools provides an educational experience that benefits all of our students. The proposed improvements would allow our district facilities to better support all students. 

A bond referendum also has significant financial benefits for taxpayers, as a successful vote is the only way to access state debt service aid toward the cost of improvements and bring state tax dollars back to our community.

The proposed improvements impact four of the district’s six buildings.

The bond proposal is structured so that all students at the four elementary schools -- Community Park, Littlebrook, Johnson Park, and Riverside -- experience similar programming and class sizes while accommodating enrollment growth. 

• Community Park Elementary School: Additional space would allow the school to serve more neighborhood students with the addition of English-only instruction. New construction would add classrooms and a multipurpose room/gym, and renovations would create a larger cafeteria, library, and music room. (Question 1)

• Princeton Middle School: Renovations would create additional science classrooms and flexible instruction space.  A connecting outdoor hallway would reduce crowding and improve the flow of students through the building. The cafeteria would be expanded and renovated, and a multipurpose room would be added. The vocal music and band rooms also would be expanded. (Question 2)

• Princeton High School: The referendum includes end-of-life maintenance replacement of the school's HVAC systems (Question 1). When HVAC work is funded through an approved referendum, the state reimburses the district for about a third of the cost (principal and interest), which reduces the share required from taxpayers.
  
  

The district technology department would move to the expanded middle school, freeing up space for student instruction. The student-run Numina Art Gallery also would be renovated. (Question 2)

• Littlebrook Elementary School: New classrooms and a vocal music room would be part of an addition, and the student support services area and small-group instruction areas would be renovated. (Question 3)

The bond referendum was designed to not only prepare for enrollment growth, but to preserve what the community values about our schools. 

Expansions and renovations are proposed at the two elementary schools closest to where new housing is being built.

Community Park Elementary is centrally located, so adding capacity at this school would accommodate more neighborhood students. Littlebrook also would expand to welcome more students.  

The added space ensures that schools can manage enrollment surges without having to repurpose rooms used for music, art or other programs. 

Expanding and renovating Community Park and Littlebrook would provide more elementary classrooms closest to where new housing is being built. 

The addition of the classrooms at Community Park and Littlebrook would reduce the scope of elementary redistricting and help balance enrollments across the district.  If the referendum does not pass, all elementary schools, including Johnson Park and Riverside elementary schools, will have increased class sizes, potential program impacts, and experience more significant redistricting.

The additional classrooms would allow more students at all four elementary schools to attend their neighborhood schools, and students who ride buses would have shorter, optimized routes.  

The heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) units at Princeton High School are at the end of their useful lifespan and require significant annual maintenance.  

Replacing the equipment with newer and more efficient units would save an estimated $150,000 to $200,000 annually.

Additionally, new and refurbished equipment would make a dramatic difference in classroom comfort that impacts student focus. The high school’s maintenance crew does its best to regulate temperatures using the current systems, but has exhausted the options for modifications. As a result, some classrooms in the nearly century-old building are often too hot or too cold. 

Modern instruction takes place in a variety of spaces. The referendum projects have been designed to meet the needs of today’s learners: 

• Small-group instruction rooms: The referendum would add rooms to support more individualized attention for students who need extra help or who are receiving special education and related services.  

• Flexible classrooms: Depending on the type of lesson and subject, a smaller or larger classroom might be needed. Flexible classrooms make instruction more responsive and versatile and allow for student collaboration and presentations. These spaces are proposed at Princeton Middle School and Community Park and Littlebrook Elementary Schools.  

• New science classrooms: Two new science classrooms would be added at the middle school to accommodate technology and the space needed for collaborative work.  

• Updated library: Community Park’s small, outdated library would be expanded to support educational activities and accommodate anticipated enrollment increases. 

• Technology space at PHS: The referendum includes plans to renovate the space currently used by the district’s technology department and add classrooms at Princeton High School, which is needed to support current programming. 

Anticipated growth is the driver for this referendum, but we are also working with our architects to ensure that modifications support more effective building layouts and modern instruction. 

New corridors would be added at Princeton Middle School and Community Park School. The corridor is needed now at PMS for safer, more effective travel through the building. At Community Park, the new corridor would help manage the flow of more students coming into the building. 

Community Park also would have an expanded library. 

New and expanded classrooms at the elementary schools and PMS would include small-group instruction rooms that are essential to address learning and opportunity gaps, and flexible classrooms that adjust as needed for collaborative work and programming. 

Also, the shift of the district technology department from the high school to the middle school would free up instructional space at the high school. 

The budget prioritizes day-to-day operating costs (salaries and benefits account for approximately 75% of the annual budget).That doesn’t leave room to pay for multiple construction projects at our schools.

By funding these capital projects through a bond referendum, the district is eligible for state debt service aid to offset the costs of the projects for taxpayers. State debt service aid is only available through an approved bond referendum. 

Purchasing a building would be a much more costly option than improving our existing schools, and it would not come with the state debt service aid that a voter-approved referendum provides. It also would come with higher yearly operating costs for administrative, custodial and other staffing needs.

If all three ballot questions pass, the district will receive $19.9 million in state debt service aid toward expanding and renovating Community Park Elementary, Littlebrook Elementary and Princeton Middle School; and updating end-of-life HVAC equipment and renovating office space into classrooms at Princeton High School.  

The referendum projects address capacity and other needs across grade levels and communities, which could not be accomplished through the acquisition of one building. 

The estimated annual tax impact of the proposed projects is based on Princeton’s average assessed home value of $853,136. The assessed value is different and typically less than market value.

For Question 1, with project costs at $37.9 million, the estimated annual tax impact is $222. 

Question 2 can only pass if Question 1 passes, and its projects have a cost of $38.3 million for an additional $225 tax impact ($447 total for Questions 1 and 2). 

Question 3 can only pass if Questions 1 and 2 pass, and its projects have a cost of $12.9 million for an additional $85 tax impact ($532 total for Questions 1, 2 and 3).

To estimate your own tax impact, use the estimates above and the averaged assessed value as a gauge, then search the database NJpropertyrecords.com. Enter your address and click to find your “assessment total.” 

State debt service aid, available only through an approved referendum, reduces the amount for school debt that appears on local tax bills.

If Question 1 is approved, the estimated debt service aid is $11.4 million. 

If Questions 1 and 2 are approved, the estimated debt service aid is $18.5 million.

If Questions 1, 2 and 3 are approved, the estimated debt service aid is $19.9 million. 

The state only provides funding for eligible building projects through a voter-approved bond referendum. State debt service aid is not available for projects funded through the annual budget or capital reserves. 

Princeton residents already contribute to the state revenue that funds school improvements across New Jersey, but only a successful bond referendum will bring some of that money back to the community.   

The State of New Jersey offers a property tax reimbursement program known as "Senior Freeze."  

Once applicants are approved, their property tax payments are “frozen” at the current amount, and they will receive a rebate if taxes increase because of a bond referendum or any other reason. See the Funding page for more details about eligibility and other potential tax relief. 

If you are a Princeton resident who meets the voter registration requirements, you are eligible to register and participate in the bond referendum on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. The deadline to register or change an existing voter registration is Tuesday, Jan. 7.  

To complete a new or updated voter registration: 

• Online – Fill out a registration form on the NJ Voter Information Portal. 

• By Mail – Print and send a paper registration form, offered in English & Spanish to the address shown on the form.  

You can also check your voter registration status on the state’s database. If you are already registered to vote in New Jersey with your current name and Princeton address, there is no need to do anything except cast a ballot in the bond referendum. 

Yes! Voting by mail is an option for the bond referendum. Whether you will be away or would like to cast your ballot ahead of time, Vote By Mail ballots are an easy, convenient way to make your voice heard.  

If you previously applied to vote by mail and your address is the same, your Vote By Mail ballot should arrive several weeks before the January 28 election. 

To ensure you’ll receive a Vote by Mail ballot, you must submit an application. Mailed applications to the Mercer County Clerk’s Office must be received by Tuesday, Jan. 21, to have a ballot sent to you. Visit the Vote page for downloadable forms and more details about the process. 

If you’d like to confirm that your ballot was mailed, contact the Mercer County Clerk’s Office at 609-989-6494 or 609-989-6495.  

You can also email Shansen@mercercounty.org or Mercervotes@mercercounty.org. 

In-person voting will be open to registered voters on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. Polling locations and times will be updated here once finalized.  

If you are unsure of your assigned polling place, use the state's polling place search tool once polling locations are finalized. The sample ballot that all voters receive in the mail will also contain polling place information. 

A provisional ballot ensures the integrity of the election while also preserving legitimate votes. For example, a voter may show up at the polls in person unaware that a Vote By Mail ballot was already sent to them. If you are told for any reason that you can’t cast a regular ballot, ask for a provisional ballot.  

Those ballots are held separately by poll workers until it can be confirmed that the person is eligible to vote and did not submit a Vote By Mail ballot. Valid votes will be counted if they are not duplicates.