Securing Our Future

Residents made their voices heard, and voted to pass the Tabernacle Township School District’s bond referendum, according to official results certified by the Burlington County Clerk on Monday, November 21.


The final tally from the polls and mail-in ballots counted is 1,624 votes in favor and 1,157 opposed.


We will soon prepare the projects for the bidding process. Contracts will be given to the lowest qualified bidders, and work will begin this summer.

The Tabernacle community will vote on a funding for a plan to make our schools safer and more secure and ensure the longevity of our infrastructure.

This fiscally responsible plan involves a bond referendum. That is a strategic move to make improvements without relying only on local taxes. After having state funding slashed nearly in half, a voter-approved bond referendum would allow us to capture a different type of state funding.

What is a bond referendum, and why is Tabernacle pursuing one?

A bond referendum is a vote in which the Tabernacle School District seeks permission to borrow funds through the sale of bonds to pay for substantial improvements to our schools.


The district chose this fiscally responsible strategy to:

  • Generate upfront funding to improve schools.

  • See upgrades in just a few years, while having the cost of the projects spread over time (similar to a home equity loan).

  • Access a specific kind of state aid so not all costs end up on local school tax bills. This funding is only available through a voter-approved bond referendum.

What projects are included?

Smart and responsible improvements to security

  • Increased safety measures would be added to every classroom in the district.

  • Building-wide intruder alarms and new, expanded security cameras would be installed if the bond referendum is approved.

  • A new, sophisticated fire alarm system would decrease critical response time in the case of an emergency.

Modifications to make our buildings more accessible

  • Rounded door knobs would be replaced with door handles, making them easier to open.

  • Doors would be rehung to ensure they open to provide maximum clearance.

Vital maintenance upgrades and replacements

  • Upgrades to roofing, heating, air conditioning, controls, and electrical systems in both schools.

  • Our buildings are well-maintained, but some of the vital systems are decades past their life expectancy. Updates would improve cost efficiency, safety, and air quality.  

  • Planning is better than an expensive, repair-as-we-go reaction.

What's the Cost ?

The cost of these improvements totals just over $12.6 million, with state aid covering 34-40% of all projects if voters approve the bond referendum.

  • If voters approve the November 8 bond referendum, the owner of a home assessed at Tabernacle Township’s average would see an initial increase before taxes decrease to less than what they paid in 2022.


  • The average assessed home in Tabernacle ($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 will be higher in 2024-2025 as residents pay the new debt and the retiring debt. However, residents will then pay an average of $242 per year for the same home, which is $17 less than what they paid in 2022, by 2026.

How do I vote?

Tabernacle residents have the power to decide the fate of these projects when they head to the polls on Tuesday, November 8, when the bond referendum will be a part of the General Election ballot. Residents who are registered to vote will also be able to vote by mail.

New Voter Registration 2020 - English_202004070910221506 (1).pdf

This website will be updated with more information on voting and proposed projects, funding details, and FAQs.

Be sure to follow Tabernacle Schools on Facebook to learn more about outreach events leading up to the November 8 vote.