A bond referendum is an election in which a school district asks voters for permission to borrow funds through the sale of bonds to finance large-scale projects spreading the costs over a period of time such as 20 years to have taxpayers who benefit from the project pay for it, and to tap into a type of state aid up to 40% of the total costs that is only available to districts with approved bond proposals. 

The district's current debt expires in January 2027. This provides a unique opportunity for the district to fund necessary infrastructure upgrades and plan for the future 21st century needs of a growing student population, reflective of upcoming new housing developments and preschool expansion for all 3- and 4-year old children in township boundaries.

The district can replace existing debt that is expiring with up to $40 million dollars in capital projects and upgrades with a “net zero” impact to taxpayers. Any amount below this amount would create a savings for taxpayers compared to the amounts currently paid per household on the existing debt service tax levy. The Board of Education crafted a $38 million dollar referendum to lower taxes compared to current levels. 

The district has been prudent in budgeting at or below a 2% tax levy cap with allowable adjustments for nearly 15 years. With fiscally responsible spending monitored by board committees, the district has been able to utilize capital reserves to finance major capital projects averaging over $1 million dollars per year for the past 10 years without issuing new debt and increasing taxes. However, inflationary pressures along with salaries and benefit increases averaging well above 2% have eroded the district's ability to continue saving the amount of funds needed to replenish reserves. 

A referendum helps spread the cost of the construction projects over time (like how a homeowner finances a new roof or an addition with a line of credit), and this time is relative to the time taxpayers who benefit from the project pay for it, and the issuance of bonds allows the district to tap into a type of state aid that is only available to districts with approved bond proposals, up to 40% of costs. This state aid which is only available by issuing bonds offsets the impact of interest and other fees resulting in an incentive for the district to utilize this approach. 

The district is seeking to develop capital projects that replace aging infrastructure and reflect the modern needs of students in obtaining a free and equitable education. Everything from HVAC, paving, fire & burglar alarms, security & safety, special education, health & wellness, among others are all potential avenues being explored based on reflection of the needs of students, staff and the community for the next 20 years. 

Click here to view the projects 

Prioritization is based on two main criteria: critical need (end-of-life or out-of-warranty equipment) and community feedback. The highest priority work will begin this summer, but projects with long lead times, such as HVAC systems (9-12 months), will be scheduled for future summers. 

Projects listed on Projects Tab indicated priorities 1, 2, and 3 with 1 being the highest need.

A poured-in-place rubber safety surfacing will be used to ensure accessibility. This rubber material is porous to allow water to drain, and the design accounts for this by incorporating underdrains and a positive slope to drain as required. Additionally, the track will include perimeter drains to manage water effectively.

The parking lot / walkway area lighting at both Whitehouse and Three Bridges Schools will include both 25’ tall pole mounted fixtures and 3.5' high pedestrian bollards to provide direct light facing downwards. The lighting will be placed strategically to eliminate any light spillage off district property. The parking lot lights shall be LED for sustainability purposes and be on the district's HVAC control system allowing the district to turn off the lights systematically, and adjust based on feedback from the community at any time. The lighting is critical to the safety of students and staff who leave when it is dark particularly in the winter months, and provide opportunity for late night HSA and other events that occur.

The district is holding a series of meetings and forums for staff members, critical stakeholders and the community to provide input on potential projects. A general outline of dates include:

September 2024: Building & department-level discussions

October 2024: Meetings with critical stakeholder groups (HSA, RTEA, Township of Readington, other)

November 2024: Architect walkthroughs 

December 3, 2024: Open public forum on referendum at Board of Education Conference Room in Holland Brook School at 6:30 p.m.

December 10, 2024: Bond attorney referendum presentation to public at BOE Meeting at 7:00 p.m.

January 2025: Board committee meetings on referendum

February 25, 2025: Board vote on referendum

March – August 2025: Public campaign for referendum

September 9, 2025 (TUESDAY): Referendum tours at Three Bridges School @ 6:00PM

September 30, 2025 (TUESDAY): Referendum tours at Whitehouse School @ 6:00PM

October 14, 2025 (TUESDAY): Referendum tours at Readington Middle School @ 5:30PM, then Holland Brook School thereafter

October 28, 2025 (TUESDAY): Referendum open forum and information session at Board of Education Conference Room in Holland Brook School at 7:00 p.m. 

November 4, 2025 (TUESDAY): Public ballot vote at regular election polling locations (remember to register to vote!) 

The district has been using capital reserves over the past 8-10 summers to implement capital improvements.  Since capital reserves are limited, the district is able to do about $1-2 million worth of projects annually.  The following projects have been completed in recent years: student bathroom updates and renovations, TBS boilers, the entire HBS roof, the RMS roof in certain sections, RMS HVAC sections, concrete repairs at TBS, bathroom install at WHS for preschool, and asbestos abatement, HVAC and renovation in the RMS office.  The district has been continually improving our facility with our capital reserves.  The referendum offers us an unique opportunity to do even more in a shorter amount of time.

Essential projects will need to be completed regardless of the vote outcome. If the referendum is voted down, the needs remain the same and it will simply shift the burden resulting in slower completion of critical repairs using limited capital reserves or the operating budget. Essential maintenance will likely consume available funds, meaning projects that enhance the student experience will be postponed or eliminated entirely due to budget constraints. Most importantly, we would lose out on over $12 million in state aid which taxpayers will have to replace. Lastly, construction costs will inevitably increase over time. Delaying construction ensures that the eventual price tag will be higher, further straining the operating budget and taxpayers.