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Deferred maintenance has a cost.
Deferred maintenance has a cost.
For years, a “low taxes” mantra has forced tough decisions for Willingboro schools. The most telling sign can’t be seen easily: Roofs that have been patched repeatedly yet moisture still gets in.
Only one school’s roof is covered by warranty. Repair costs for all others take a toll on the annual budget.
In-depth study found three schools that need full roof replacements and four others that need new top layers.
Roofing replacements/repairs account for 59% of the projects proposed in Question 1 of the bond proposal.
Other examples of deferred maintenance include flooring at James A. Cotten Intermediate School and parking lot reconfiguration at Garfield East Early Childhood Development Center.
State aid makes bond funding a strategic option.
Maintenance that has been put off for years has reached a level that cannot be resolved within the annual budget.
Additionally, the advantage of state aid makes bond funding a strategic choice:
It would bring $21 million in additional state funding to Willingboro Public Schools.
It would make use of tax dollars our residents are already paying.
An increase for the 2023-2024 school year marked the first time in 10 years that WPS changed the tax rate that supports day-to-day operations. It’s been 15 years since voters approved funding for longer-term building improvements that did not affect all schools or address all needs. Like a home without continual upkeep, our schools need attention.
For several years, WPS has devoted about 3.5% of its annual budget toward “catching up” on needs. Next-level improvement requires a different source of funding.
Question 1: Turning imagination into action.
The WPS Board of Education worked with professionals to research needs, and then cut back an original list of more than $175 million worth of improvements. Priority projects included in this referendum are:
Improvements for roofing, gym annexes, modernized media centers, updated science labs, and various other repairs total an estimated cost of $49,695,664.
State aid is already promised for $21,004,856 to reduce the amount on local tax bills.
The remaining local tax share for Question 1 is projected to be $14 per month for a home assessed at Willingboro's average. That tax impact is based on these factors:
the average cost over 22 years
the value of a home assessed at $161,022 (the mathematical average of assessed values in Willingboro)
Bringing State Aid Back to the Boro.
Each year, New Jersey’s budget gives school districts millions of dollars in this special kind of aid – but only when a district is using bond funding to meet capital needs.
Willingboro Township residents already pay into this state funding.
The WPS Board of Education wants to bring some of it back to improve our schools.
Question 1 is worth $21 million in state aid.
Question 2: Reimagining an unused field.
The WPS Board of Education and administration envision an Indoor Track and Basketball Complex as a beacon of Boro Pride. This kind of facility is not eligible for the state's financial aid program, but it has future revenue-producing potential.
Construction of an indoor track facility and two basketball courts total an estimated cost of $18,195,667.
Question 2 cannot pass unless Question 1 also passes. Together, the remaining local tax share for Questions 1 and 2 is projected to be $23 per month for a home assessed at Willingboro's average ($161,022).
In essence: Question 2’s Indoor Track and Basketball Complex would cost about $9 per month for a home assessed at Willingboro’s average.
Tax relief is available for seniors.
Tax relief is available for seniors.
The State of New Jersey has several programs that provide property tax relief, especially for people who are older or disabled. A new one called Stay NJ reimburses up to half the property tax bill of eligible applicants. For 2024, the benefit is capped at $6,500. Another program known as the "Senior Freeze" holds property taxes at the rate that existed when the applicant became eligible for that program. Its income limit was raised to $168,268.
Learn more about these programs on the state’s website or by calling 800-882-6597.
Assessed value is NOT market value.
Assessed value is NOT market value.
“Assessed” values are used to calculate property taxes. A home’s assessed value is often much lower than its market value – sometimes half the amount!
Market value can be found on Zillow.com and it fluctuates as housing demand grows and weakens.
Assessed value can be found in the database NJpropertyrecords.com. Enter your address and click to find your “assessment total.”
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