Frequently Asked Questions

A bond referendum is a vote that determines whether a school district can borrow funds through the sale of bonds. The bonds are paid back through property taxes over time. This type of funding mechanism provides significant advantages to taxpayers as well as the district. When voters approve a bond referendum in New Jersey, qualified projects are eligible for state debt service aid toward the projects. By contrast, projects that are funded through the regular operating budget do not receive this state debt service aid to reduce the amount required from local taxes. 

The district is leading efforts to inform all voters in Princeton about the bond referendum that appears on the Nov. 7 general election ballot. You can help amplify the accurate information released by the district. Bookmark this website and check back for updates, including details on an upcoming forum. Please also share social media posts (Facebook at @PrincetonPublicSchoolsNJ, Instagram at @princetonK12 and X (formerly Twitter) at @princetonK12) and print materials with your neighbors and friends. 

The goal is for all registered voters to be well informed when they make their decision on the bond referendum.

The proposed projects at the elementary schools include:  

Community Park Elementary School    

• Security and camera upgrades, protective window film   

• Technology upgrade to ensure reliable internet service   

• Playground area drainage improvements   

• Minor playground equipment upgrades    

• Fencing replacement 
      

Johnson Park Elementary School   

• Security and camera upgrades, protective window film   

• Technology upgrade to ensure reliable internet service   

• Cell service boosters where signals are routinely weak 

• Minor playground equipment upgrades    

• Fencing replacement   

Littlebrook Elementary School    

• Security and camera upgrades, protective window film   

• Technology upgrade to ensure reliable internet service   

• Playground area drainage improvements   

• Minor equipment upgrades to increase accessibility   

• Fencing replacement   

Riverside Elementary School   

• Security and camera upgrades, protective window film   

• Technology upgrade to ensure reliable internet service   

• Minor equipment upgrades to increase accessibility   

• Fencing replacement  

The proposed projects at Princeton Middle School include:  

• Updated doors and locks   

• Security and camera upgrades and protective window film   

• Technology upgrade to ensure reliable internet service   

• Cell service boosters where signals are routinely weak  

• Updated lighting and equipment at pool 

• Minor playground equipment upgrades  

The proposed projects at Princeton High School include:    

• Updated doors and locks  

• Two security vestibules  

• Security and camera upgrades, protective window film  

• Technology upgrade to ensure reliable internet service  

• Cafeteria and kitchen renovations  

• Repairs to instructional EcoLab 

• Athletic field and track resurfacing

The Board of Education and district leadership put extensive thought into determining the bond projects. The scope of the referendum is based on previous input from community members, as well as a strategy of addressing needs in manageable phases. They focused on projects that would strategically move the district forward in the areas of safety and security, wellness and sustainability, major maintenance, and technology. 

Work for the referendum projects would likely be completed in two phases. 

Construction over the summer of 2024 would focus on doors and hardware, the high school security vestibules, and the cafeteria/kitchen. The cafeteria project might start a little earlier in June because of the scope of the work. 

Work on the track, field and other outdoor areas would begin in the spring of 2025 and would be targeted for completion by the end of summer 2025.

The district most recently resurfaced the field and track in 2014. Turf lasts 10 to 12 years, and updating it through referendum funding would fit within that timeline.  

If voters approve the November referendum, the field and track would be resurfaced in the summer of 2025. 

Resurfacing the field and track soon would prevent further deterioration that could be costly to repair. Just in recent years, we spent nearly $4,000 on emergency repairs for the turf field, which is heavily used not just by students but also by community soccer and lacrosse leagues. 

The district launched one-to-one technology during the pandemic giving every K-12 student a device. The program continues to provide instructional benefits, but device usage is straining classroom internet connections. An upgraded network will support not only our current technology in the classrooms, but also future needs, which will surely continue to grow. 

When deciding on the project list, the district thought carefully about the state’s aid formula, which prioritizes renovating existing spaces rather than new construction, and about the greatest needs. Based on this, the district included playground drainage and equipment upgrades that benefit from receiving a higher amount of state debt service aid.  

The projects include fixing drainage at Littlebrook and Community Park schools, since drainage issues frequently keep children off those playgrounds. All elementary schools and the middle school would also receive minor equipment upgrades, with Riverside and Littlebrook receiving additions to increase accessibility.

Additionally, the district was proactive in obtaining a NJ Department of Community Affairs grant for $75,000 toward playground equipment. This means that if the referendum is approved, approximately $900,000 will be spent on playground upgrades.

Approval of the bond referendum would provide funding for new lighting, starting blocks and pads at the indoor pool at Princeton Middle School. This is the home base for the Princeton Piranhas swim group and is a valuable community resource. 

Similarly, the athletic field and track would be resurfaced after years of wear and tear. Community soccer and lacrosse leagues rely on the field, and residents walk and run on the track.

A new cafeteria layout with varied seating styles would allow for better student traffic flow and could increase seating capacity by about 50 percent to around 400.  This is dependent on proper code review and approvals by the Princeton Fire Department.

The district would work with a cafeteria equipment consultant to replace outdated serving and cooking equipment, and repurpose items that are still functional.  

The kitchen has been without a working dishwasher for years. The proposed upgrades include a commercial dishwasher to reduce the need for single-use and other disposable items.  

While some states have passed legislation to fund security infrastructure, the cost in New Jersey typically falls to individual school districts. The New Jersey Association of School Administrators, which represents public school superintendents, released a report last spring calling for more sustained support to tighten security. In the absence of such funding, Princeton Public Schools is holding a bond referendum to ask voters for permission to finance some security enhancements. 

These include adding two security vestibules at the main and Performing Arts Center entrances of Princeton High School. The vestibules were installed at other schools through previous referendum funding. The changes to control access at high school entrances would preserve the building’s architectural integrity. 

The district also would enhance security by replacing doors and locks at the high school and middle school, installing protective window film and upgrading cameras, among other measures. Cell phone boosters at Johnson Park Elementary and Princeton Middle School would ensure reliable phone service, which is essential in effective security and communication systems.

Sustainability is a pillar that contributes to Princeton Public Schools’ success; it provides not only cost savings but environmental benefits that we can all be proud of. The district would continue its HVAC improvements with energy-efficient building climate controls. The controls would eventually pay for themselves through energy savings. 

Likewise, kitchen renovations would include installation of a commercial dishwasher, among other design projects, to end the reliance on single-use utensils. 

As we prepare the next generation of like-minded leaders, we also need to repair the EcoLab’s deteriorated detention basin walls for environmental science students at the High School. These classes conduct hands-on lessons in wetland habitats. 

The projects outlined in the Nov. 7 bond referendum are estimated to cost $13 million. The district has worked with experienced financial advisers who make projections on interest rates. Their estimates are conservative enough to cover market fluctuations that could arise. 

If voters approve the bond referendum, Princeton Public Schools would qualify for $5 million in debt service aid. This amount would offset the local share of payments for the projects. 

This type of aid is collected through taxes across the state and is earmarked only for communities that approve a bond referendum.

The district was careful to select projects that are eligible for the maximum amount of aid within the state’s criteria. The state’s aid formula provides more funding for renovations and rehabilitation projects than new construction.

Princeton Public Schools is estimating a 13-year maturity on the bonds with a 3.5 percent interest rate. Many school districts borrow for 20- or 25-year terms; however, Princeton wants to use a shorter term to take advantage of historically lower interest rates and keep the investment steady over time. 

The amount remaining after debt service aid will be covered by local property taxes. The average annual tax impact of $104 is based on a home assessed at $848,037 (the mathematical average in Princeton).

A home’s assessed value is different (and often less) than the market value. The assessed value is what appears on tax bills and is not to be confused with market value, which is used in real estate sales. 

A successful vote authorizes the district to only spend the amount outlined in the proposal.

If the actual costs are lower than estimated, the money will be used to pay down the debt faster and lower taxes. The costs cannot be higher than the estimate, so the district’s advisers have thoroughly researched the costs to include a cushion for unexpected circumstances.

To vote in the Nov. 7 general election, you must be a registered voter by Oct. 17, and your registration must show your current name and address in Princeton. You can check your voter registration status here. Voters can cast their ballots either in advance by mail; through early voting from Oct. 28-Nov. 5 at select locations, or at their regular polling places on Election Day. Residents can still apply to Vote By Mail by sending their application to the Mercer County Clerk’s Office for arrival by Oct. 31, or delivering it in person by 3 p.m. Nov. 6. See the Voter Info page of this website for downloadable voter registration forms and Vote By Mail applications.  

If you recently moved or changed your name, make sure your registration matches your current information. The deadline to register or change an existing registration is Oct. 17. 

You can register to vote online or with a paper form. This New Jersey state webpage explains what documentation is required to register. 

Voters can head to their regular polling places from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7. If you are unsure of your assigned polling place, check the sample ballot that arrives in the mail, or use the state's polling place search tool.   

Yes, residents will have additional opportunities to vote in person before the Nov. 7 election. Several Mercer County locations will be available for early voting from Oct. 28 – Nov. 5, from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Friday – Saturday, and 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday. The Princeton site is at Princeton Shopping Center, 401 N. Harrison St., but residents can cast their ballot at any early voting site in Mercer County. 

Some people have requested that they receive Vote By Mail ballots for all elections, and county officials are expected to mail those ballots in late September. 

However, there’s still time to request a mail-in ballot for this election. Download and print a Vote By Mail application form and mail it back to the Mercer County Clerk’s Office. Mailed applications must be received by Oct. 31. 

Vote By Mail applications also can be hand-delivered to the Mercer County Clerk’s Office in Trenton by 3 p.m. on Nov. 6.

Remember, mail-in ballots will not be accepted at in-person polling locations. To return a Vote By Mail ballot, you can: 

• Mail it no later than Nov. 7 to ensure it is postmarked by the election date.   

• Deposit it in a designated drop box by 8 p.m. Nov. 7. Princeton drop boxes are at the Princeton Municipal Building, 400 Witherspoon St. (in front of the Municipal Building facing Witherspoon Street); and at Princeton University Dinky Station/Wawa (around the circular drop off area in front of Wawa).   

• Bring it to the county clerk’s office by 8 p.m. 

You can track your ballot here once you submit it. For additional questions about Vote By Mail, contact the Mercer County Voter Hotline at 609-278-2719 or MercerVotes@mercercounty.org. See the Mercer County Clerk’s website for Vote By Mail information in additional languages.   

Between voter registration lists and Vote By Mail ballots being sent, it’s possible the individual polls may not have up-to-date information. It’s also possible that voters didn’t expect to receive a ballot by mail and tossed it without understanding its importance. If you show up at the poll but are told you cannot vote there because you aren’t registered, you already received a ballot by mail, or for ANY reason, ask for a provisional ballot. Your ballot will be kept safe and will be counted if your voter eligibility is confirmed.