FAQs

A bond referendum is a process in which a school district asks voters to approve bond borrowing to finance large-scale facilities improvements, renovations and construction. The Tabernacle Township School District has chosen this strategy to generate upfront funding for critical facilities improvements and spread the cost of the projects over time. When voters approve a bond referendum, qualified projects are eligible for a specific type of state funding to offset the impact on school tax bills. This funding will contribute about 34-40% to reduce local costs and is only provided to school districts where voters approve borrowing through bonds.

A bond referendum is part of a fiscally responsible strategy to make critical repairs and updates to the elementary and middle schools. An approved referendum would enable the district to receive a specific type of state aid to replace older systems with more reliable and efficient equipment, as well as repair, replace and update safety measures.

A special kind of state aid is available for communities where voters approve a bond referendum. Rather than trying to make improvements using the regular budget, districts will move qualified projects into a bond-funded budget. This strategic approach opens the door to special state aid that is not available any other way.

Revenue collected from all over New Jersey contributes to a state fund that helps public school districts afford large-scale, long-term projects. Only certain kinds of projects qualify for the funding, which can only be shared with districts where voters approve the sale of bonds. A bond referendum is an opportunity for Tabernacle to bring some of those dollars back to our community. Learn more by visiting our Financial Info page. All of the proposed projects in Tabernacle qualify and have been approved for the maximum amount of state aid.

This proposal includes crucial and responsible upgrades to security measures, such as the replacement of classroom handles and locks and the installation of new camera and alarm systems. Also, modifications will be made to make the buildings more accessible to students, staff, and visitors, such as replacing door handles to make them easier to open.

The plan also addresses critical maintenance needs and replacement of vital operating systems at both schools such as upgrades to roofing, heating, air conditioning, controls, and electrical systems in both schools to improve cost efficiency, safety, and air quality.

A voter-approved bond referendum would allow us to make important safety and security updates to every classroom at both TES and OMS.

New hardware added to classroom doors would allow teachers to more safely and efficiently go into lockdown mode in the case of an emergency. Building-wide intruder alarm systems would also be upgraded, along with a complete replacement of exterior door access controls that allow visitors into our buildings. New, more advanced security systems would include better cameras to capture clearer videos across more areas.

The district selected large-scale projects to include in the referendum proposal that are considered high priorities to ensure the safety of our students and staff and the longevity of our school buildings. This plan also helps the district work ahead to fund these projects in the most fiscally responsible way before “needs” become “musts” that require immediate attention without planning for a fiscal approach. A big part of that fiscally responsible approach included only selecting projects that qualify for the maximum amount of state aid available to offset costs. The state sets aside a special type of aid to assist districts that fund capital improvements through bond borrowing.

The roof at OMS is more than 20 years old and out of warranty, which means the district must pay for any leaks or repairs out of the regular operating budget. The number of leaks in the roof is only growing every year.

A new roof, funded through an approved referendum, would be three times more insulating, resulting in energy cost savings almost immediately. The proposed new roofing system would be eligible for a 30-year warranty.

The New Jersey Clean Energy Program grant will cover about 35% of the HVAC projects at both schools. A voter-approved bond referendum would take care of the balance of HVAC replacements. The systems currently in place were designed to last 25 years but have lasted for 40 years. In addition to reducing the risk of costly, pop-up repairs, each school’s new HVAC system would be more cost efficient and produce better air quality.

Our schools meet guidelines of the federal American With Disabilities Act (ADA) in some ways, but more can be done to accommodate students, staff and visitors who need extra supports. Rounded doorknobs would be replaced with easier to grip handles and doors would be hung to ensure maximum clearance into classrooms and hallways.

The NJ Department of Education has reviewed and approved the district’s bond referendum proposal for projects estimated to cost just over $12.6 million. This figure includes not just the work on the projects, but professional and permit fees to support it, as well as a cushion calculated by the district’s financial advisors to account for market fluctuations and contingencies. State aid would cover 34-40% of the estimated cost to reduce the local share.

A slight increase in the tax rate for the first three years is expected, and then it would decrease after existing debt is paid off. In about three years, Tabernacle residents would be paying less in taxes than they paid in 2022.

Safety and security (intruder alert system, classroom locks, surveillance cameras, fire alarm system, accessibility modifications) - 19%

Environmental safety (new HVAC systems outfitted with MERV13 filters) – 49%

Roofing at Olson MS – 23%

Other (electrical upgrades, public address system) – 9%

Our district is paying off the costs of a previous voter-approved referendum. Taking care of long-term projects, and using state aid to reduce local costs, means rolling those tax payments into a new investment. That approach keeps the tax rate steady, keeps the facilities maintained, and uses a special kind of state aid to pay some of the costs. The existing debt and new debt will briefly overlap, resulting in an increase in 2024 and 2025, but when the old debt is paid off, residents will be paying less than what they paid in 2022, by 2026.

Tabernacle Township School District’s annual budget covers costs of day-to-day operations, salaries, supplies and regular maintenance, along with funding for our educational programs. Even if there was a way to find room in the budget to cover the costs of some of the proposed projects in our bond referendum, utilizing a bond referendum is a strategic approach that allows us to tap into state aid that otherwise wouldn’t be available to us.

A home’s assessed value is used to calculate how much property tax its owner will pay. Market value is different. Market value is an estimate of how much a home could sell for in today’s market and is usually much higher than a home’s assessed value. Find your assessed value on your property tax bill. A mathematical calculation of assessments in Tabernacle Townships yields the average of $266,592.

A home assessed at Tabernacle’s average ($266,592) pays approximately $259 per year for the K-8 district’s school debt taxes and will continue to do so until that debt is paid off in 2025. If residents approve the bond referendum, taxes would be higher in 2024-2025 as residents pay the new debt and the retiring debt. However, residents would then pay an average of $242 per year for the same home, which is $17 less than what they paid in 2022, by 2026. Learn more on our Financial Info page.

The remaining portion of the project costs would be covered by local taxpayers over the next 20 years as part of the K-8 school debt tax. This is how Tabernacle has been able to make facility improvements in the past. With that existing debt (that was previously approved by voters) soon retiring, taxpayers in 2026 would pay $17 less than they did in 2022 if this bond referendum passes (based on a home assessed at Tabernacle's average).

Tabernacle Township School District has existing debt that is nearing its payoff point. Bonds issued in 1996 and 2005 after voter-approved referenda are both coming to an end, resulting in fluctuating numbers. The first payoff was in 2021-22, which is why there is a brief dip in the tax rate. A home assessed at Tabernacle’s average ($266,592) pays approximately $259 per year for the K-8 district’s school debt taxes. If residents approve the November 8 bond referendum, taxes would be higher in 2024-2025 as residents pay the remaining existing debt and new debt. However, residents in 2026 would then pay an average of $242 per year for the same home, which is $17 less than what they paid in 2022 (based on a home assessed at Tabernacle's average).

If the district pays off debt without holding a bond referendum, the tax rate for debt will fall but the district is likely to put more of its operating funds towards inefficiencies and repairs. The Board’s strategy is to address “musts” before they become more costly. Doing that through a bond referendum uses state aid to cover up to 34- 40% of the costs. Without that state aid, 100% of the costs would be covered through the operating budget.

The Tabernacle Township Board of Education selected only the highest priority projects, which are all eligible for the maximum of state aid, to be a part of this bond referendum. Not all school safety and security systems are created equally. Features that have become standard in modern and renovated schools are missing from our buildings and our students and staff deserve to feel safe. Tabernacle’s schools are well-maintained, but nothing stops the march of time. HVAC systems were designed to last 25 years, but have lasted for 40 years and are inefficient. The roof at OMS is more than 20 years old and out of warranty, which means the district must pay for any leaks or repairs out of the regular operating budget. The number of leaks in the roof is only growing every year. Planning, especially when getting the state to pay up to 40% of the cost, is better than costly pop-up repairs, making a bond referendum a fiscally responsible strategy.

Consumers tend to think of borrowing as bad news – a sign that planning was not done and that costs would be higher as a result. The opposite is true for public school districts in New Jersey. That’s because of state aid that only comes with bond borrowing. This special type of state aid – called debt service aid - is only available when debt is issued. If debt is not issued this type of aid is not available to a district, and the project must be funded in full by the tax payers of the District. Districts strategically plan to group projects into a bond referendum to take advantage of debt service state aid. Borrowing through the sale of bonds – and getting the state to cover up to 40% of the costs – is an approach that makes sense and cents.

The district cannot spend more than the amount of money voters authorize in a bond referendum. The district, in partnership with financial consultants and its architect, has thoroughly researched the proposed projects and their associated costs and has included a contingency amount in the estimated total. That cushion does take into account current spikes in materials costs, gas prices and interest rates. If actual costs exceed what voters approved, plans will have to be adjusted to fit the budget.

If voters approve the bond referendum, the district can only spend that money on projects outlined in the proposal. If actual costs are lower than what’s estimated, the money would be used to reduce the debt, and therefore, reduce taxes.

The projects proposed in this referendum have an impact on taxpayers even if they do not have students enrolled. Maybe their children graduated (and benefited from previous voter decisions to build, maintain and improve the schools). Maybe their children haven’t hit school age yet (but will). There is value for taxpayers who don’t have children. One is everyday quality of life in communities that attract people and businesses. Another value is in the ability to sell a home quickly. Studies show that the quality of an area’s schools is a No. 1 factor for homebuyers.

A property tax rebate for seniors and people with disabilities is offered in New Jersey. Eligible taxpayers get a rebate if their taxes increase. Application forms can be found here. Taxpayers can also call the Senior Tax Freeze hotline at 1-800-882-6597.

All registered voters with a Tabernacle Township address can participate in the Nov 8 bond referendum to better serve students and fund facility improvements at the schools. Those not currently registered must do so by Oct. 18 to vote in the Nov 8. election. To confirm your registration is up to date, click here. For a voter registration form, visit our Voting Info page.

All Tabernacle Township districts can vote in person from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8. To find your local polling location, click here or visit our Voting Info page for more details.

If you have voted by mail before, you may automatically receive a ballot in the mail, according to Vote By Mail information provided by the state and Burlington County. Look for that ballot 3-4 weeks ahead of the Nov. 8 vote. To request a Vote By Mail ballot, download the application here. It must be marked and either hand-delivered by 8 p.m. to the Board of Elections or postmarked by the U.S. Postal System by Nov. 8.

Voters also may apply for a Vote By Mail ballot at the County Clerk’s Office at 50 Rancocas Road in Mount Holly anytime up until 3 p.m. on the day before the election. Ballots issued over the counter can then be taken directly to the Board of Elections in the same building. Vote By Mail ballots cannot be turned in at a polling place.

NJ passed a law in 2021 establishing early voting opportunities for all Primary and General Elections. The Tabernacle referendum will be held on the date of the General Election, so voters will be able to cast ballots in person at specific early voting locations from Saturday, Oct. 29, through Sunday, Nov. 6. Voters who want to take advantage of this convenience should check the Burlington County Elections page for updates on early voting times and locations.