Quick Facts and FAQs

A bond referendum, or vote, asks the public for permission to borrow money through the sale of bonds. Voter approval gives the school district authority to sell bonds and use property taxes to buy them back, with interest. This is the way a public school district borrows money, like a homeowner might borrow money to build an addition or renovate a kitchen.  

Bond funding offers significant advantages to taxpayers and the district. When voters approve a school bond referendum in New Jersey, qualified projects are eligible for state funding. This funding comes in addition to the financial aid the state already provides for regular operating costs.   

Willingboro has carefully identified needs and improvements with the goal of capturing state aid. If the bond referendum is approved, the district would gain $21 million in state aid. That funding comes from the state budget to which our residents already contribute. 

The Board of Education included two questions on the referendum ballot because they take different approaches to the needs facing WPS.

Question 1 projects would directly impact academics. Repairing roofs and getting them back under warranty protection would preserve the annual budget for the instructional program. Building gym annexes would reclaim the classrooms currently used for Physical Education classes. Renovating media centers would provide better space options for targeted tutoring.

Question 2 is focused only on the construction of an Indoor Track and Basketball Complex that could generate revenue for the instructional program.  This is an innovative idea to do more than the minimum for our town – to create a community resource of pride and school revenue.

Question 2 can pass only if Question 1 receives voter approval.

The property tax rate for Willingboro schools was steady for 10 years, and during that decade the district made minor improvements to its many buildings. A priority of low taxes pushed big-ticket maintenance projects onto the back burner. That led to leaky roofs, crowded classrooms and inefficient heating/cooling systems. 

Over the past few years, the Board of Education and administration have made progress toward improvements through three funding sources: A portion of the locally funded operating budget; state support for projects that improve energy efficiency, and federal funding related to COVID recovery. Bond funding would be the next to continue making improvements across the district. 

Willingboro voters approved a bond referendum in 2010 to make $67.4 million worth of improvements. That included new windows and doors, and upgrades to the heating and electrical systems for Twin Hills, Garfield East and Stuart buildings. It also included new interior doors throughout the district and new exterior doors at Memorial. At the high school, better auditorium seating was installed and six science labs were renovated. 

In the 15 years since then, those improvements have stood the test of time. Science labs at the high school are part of the 2025 referendum, but not the same labs that were renovated previously. 

Students in WPS are a vital part of our community. They represent our future, and many will serve as the community leaders of tomorrow. In addition, the buildings themselves are a collective community investment and upgrades are proposed to protect that investment. In addition, several of the projects would increase cost/energy efficiencies. New roofing would reinforce climate control efforts and would stop the cycle of continuous patchwork repairs.  

This website is full of information about the March 11 bond referendum. WPS is also committed to holding a series of in-person Town Halls to present information; the public will have an opportunity to ask questions. Those will all start at 6:30 p.m. February 5 at J.C. Stuart ECDC; February 18 at W.R. James Elementary School; February 26 at James A. Cotten Intermediate School and March 5 at Willingboro High School.

In addition, there will be a Virtual Town Hall at 6:30 p.m. on February 12. Use this link to join. The recording of that event will be available on this website afterward.  

Several improvements would support teaching and learning needs in the district, including: 

• Renovating science labs in the high school and middle school to align with current state science learning standards. 

• Transforming our elementary school libraries into modern media centers that are more conducive to learning in a digital age. 

• Building gymnasiums at the district’s elementary schools which would restore much-needed classroom spaces for other subjects. Currently, our elementary schools set aside classrooms which are utilized throughout the year to teach physical education classes.   

• Infrared studies of roofing across the district indicate that moisture is finding its way into several schools. Water infiltration can lead to mold growth.  

• ECDC restrooms need to be built within classrooms to meet state standards. Currently, young learners must be escorted to and from restrooms located in the hallway; they cannot be allowed to wander without supervision. 

• At Garfield East ECDC, safety in the parking and pick-up/drop-off area could be better. The referendum proposes expanding the parking area and adding a traffic loop around the school for safer, more efficient travel. 

There are no gymnasiums in Willingboro’s elementary schools. The schools set aside classrooms which are used as makeshift gymnasiums throughout the year. This solution restricts these much-needed classrooms from use for other subjects. Dedicated gymnasiums would allow for more efficient and effective utilization of classroom space and provide students with activity-appropriate venues for physical education. Gym annexes would offer a solution to crowding at the elementary schools, helping to keep class sizes smaller.

The digital age has transformed traditional libraries into media centers where students can use technology to access information contained in thousands of books and have appropriate spaces to collaborate in small groups. Renovating the elementary school libraries would serve our students by selectively keeping some books while also providing 21st century learning environments to fully prepare them for the challenges and opportunities of the future. It would also create more areas for one-on-one or small-group instruction to target specific student needs.   

Science labs are becoming an increasingly important aspect of the state’s Science Teaching Standards, but Willingboro’s science facilities make it challenging to meet those. The labs need to reflect the growing role for students to be competitive with their peers and ready for the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) career opportunities of the future.  

Under previous standards, teachers could lecture students through learning experiences culminating in activities requiring access to science labs. New standards are much more hands-on, requiring students to have access to science labs for almost every lesson. Current science labs in the middle school and high school are not adequate or modern enough to handle the increased emphasis on science laboratory learning. 

School roofs have been patched well beyond their expected lifespan, which helped delay a property tax increase for years. Now, almost all roofs need attention. Some can be repaired with top layers and/or a sectioned approach – the High School, Garfield East ECDC, Twin Hills and W.R. James. Others have such advanced deterioration that the entire roof must be pulled off and replaced – Memorial Middle, Cotten Intermediate, and J.C. Stuart ECDC.

In total, the referendum includes more than 670,000 square feet of roofing, equal to about 11.5 football fields, and repair/replacement costs make up 59% of the projects proposed in Question 1.

Only one roof in the eight-school district is covered by warranty; Hawthorne Park Elementary School’s roof warranty won’t expire until 2032. All others show signs of water penetration. Once a roof starts to deteriorate, water can seep through gaps or cracks and cause interior damage to walls and ceilings. Trapped moisture can promote mold growth. 

Without warranty coverage, any repairs place a strain on the annual operating budget. Addressing the other roofs now, with state aid to pay a share of the costs, would protect WPS from having to pay for repairs. That would have a stabilizing effect on the budget that pays for instruction programming. 

The goal of keeping school property taxes low required delaying maintenance and improvement projects for about a decade. Like a home without continual upkeep, our schools need attention. 

For the past few years, the administration and Board of Education have devoted about 3.5% of the district’s annual budget toward “catching up” on facility needs. The district sets aside funds earmarked for Capital Reserve and Maintenance Reserve, and uses those to forecast and address facility needs. For an overview of the improvements the district accomplished in recent years, please visit the Advancing Willingboro Schools One Building at a Time. 

A March referendum puts Willingboro on track for some work to begin, at the earliest, in the spring of 2025. That fall, WPS could break ground for a new indoor track/basketball complex, while also beginning roofing projects and restroom additions. In the 2026-27 school year, gym annexes could be added to the elementary schools; more roofing roof would take place; science lab and media center renovation would begin. The indoor track/basketball complex could be ready for use by the 2027-28 school year, and additional science lab and media center renovations would begin. Projects would be targeted for completion by fall 2028. 

WPS would work with LAN Associates to plan a schedule for securing bond funding (which must be done through a competitive bid process), finalizing project details, and publicizing for companies to do the work (also through a competitive bid process). LAN has significant experience working with schools and would create a construction schedule that minimizes the impact on students and staff.  

The Boro already has a storied reputation as a track and field powerhouse in New Jersey. An indoor track would further enhance that reputation by making Willingboro a statewide destination for indoor track competitions, especially on the western side of the state.   

The indoor track would give members of the Willingboro High School track and field team a state-of-the-art facility in which to practice, train and compete throughout the year, regardless of weather.   

The indoor track/basketball complex would be available for the community to rent for events. The basketball courts could be rented for community basketball or volleyball leagues or for other events throughout the year.   

As one of just a few indoor tracks in New Jersey, the facility would provide substantial opportunities for rental fees and corporate sponsorships to help offset operating costs and generate additional income for WPS.  

If voters approve the proposal, details about a buffer between nearby homes and the indoor track and basketball complex would be part of the next stage of planning. Those plans would be submitted to the township's Planning Board to finalize the appropriate buffering.  

The maintenance costs of the complex will be funded through rental fees and sponsorship revenue. The district operating budget will not be impacted by maintenance costs of the complex.  

The proposed Indoor Track and Basketball Complex would provide the community with two full-length basketball courts for rental. Courts like this are in high demand, especially during the late fall and winter months when it is too cold to play outdoors.  

Selling bonds would allow the district to have up-front funding for long-term needs like roofing replacements and media center renovations. Getting these projects done in the next three years eliminates the risk of inflation that could cause them to be more expensive in 10 or 15 years. 

WPS is leveraging the state’s Energy Savings Improvement Program to make $17.7 million worth of upgrades including cooler, more efficient LED lighting throughout the district, and more energy friendly heating and cooling components at the Bookbinder site. The state initiative known as ESIP is available to school districts and government entities seeking to lower utility costs. It acts like a loan – using the value of future energy savings to pay for the projects. 

For instance, the Bookbinder building will benefit from a new heating, cooling and ventilation system through the ESIP program. The referendum does not include this site because of that. 

WPS has taken full advantage of alternate federal and state funding sources. For instance, COVID-related federal funding such as ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) paid for more than $3.5 million in HVAC upgrades at the High School, Memorial and Cotten gyms and the Garfield library. 

Already, state funding contributes to the district’s annual operating budget for daily expenses such as salaries, supplies, transportation and utilities. Voter approval of bond funding would bring additional state aid for the long-term improvements proposed through the referendum. 

Willingboro explores every possible funding source to maintain and upgrade its eight schools, the Country Club Administration Building, and other buildings that we operate out of, such as Bookbinder, which serves our Alternative School, and our facilities warehouse. In recent years, WPS has dedicated about 3.5% of the annual budget to “catching up” on maintenance needs that were back-burnered to keep property taxes low. 

For an overview of the improvements the district accomplished in recent years, please visit the Advancing Willingboro Schools One Building at a Time. 

A well-established program of the New Jersey Department of Education has been in existence for decades. It helps public school districts maintain and improve their properties by providing financial assistance when voters also agree to pay a share. WPS submitted plans to the DOE for review and received paperwork that authorized $21 million in state aid.

With a voter-approved referendum, the DOE would allocate funds to WPS each year – as if it were helping make the bond payments.

Bond funding plays a role in the district’s ongoing maintenance and replacement plan. This proposal considers long-term needs that would not fit well into the regular budget but would qualify for that state aid.  

The state's commitment to pay about $21 million toward improvements makes a bond proposal a fiscal advantage for the school district and Willingboro taxpayers.  

• Stay NJ Property Tax Credit Program: This new program reimburses up to half the property tax bill of eligible applicants. For 2024, the benefit is capped at $6,500. You must be 65 or older and have owned and lived in your home for the full 12 months of 2024. Your total annual income in 2024 must have been less than $500,000. More info.
  
  

• Senior Freeze: Reimburses eligible seniors and disabled persons for property tax increases because of a school bond referendum or any other reason. You must be 65 or older OR received federal Social Security disability benefit payments. Your total annual income in 2024 must have been less than $168,268. More info.
   

• ANCHOR: Offers tax relief to residents who own or rent property in NJ and meet income limits. More info.
   

• $250 Senior Citizens and Disabled Person Property Tax Deduction: Provides $250 property tax deduction to eligible seniors or disabled persons. More info.  

Voter approval would start the process of more detailed project planning and the issuance of bonds to fund those improvements. Willingboro's financial advisors would monitor the bond market and determine the best time to sell bonds, which is done through competitive bids for the lowest interest rate. It is anticipated that property owners would see the increase on tax bills in August 2026.

The most pressing need facing WPS is the amount of roofing that needs to be repaired or replaced. That is a “right now” need, and delaying it costs more in patches and damages. Contracting a bulk amount of work is likely to get a better cost for the district. Think of getting a roofer to commit to re-shingling your shed, versus doing that and your home’s roof.

Gym annexes and media center renovations cost too much for the operating budget to absorb at once, and doing that work in stages would take a decade or longer. The Board would have to decide which elementary schools would benefit first (and last), and that would lead to inequity.

Bond funding solves those issues by providing the up-front funding needed to accomplish these improvements without significantly hurting the budget that pays for day-to-day instructional needs.

Voter approval would start a process that is expected to take a few years.

Property assessments are determined by the Township of Willingboro specifically for the purpose of taxes. In contrast, a property’s market value is the guesstimate of what it might sell for in the current real estate market. The estimated tax impact of improvements is based on a home’s assessed value.  

Find your home’s assessed value with this database.    

If your home’s assessment is higher or lower than the mathematical average in Willingboro ($161,022), a quick calculation can help you estimate your tax impact. Voter approval of Question 1 on the ballot would add $170 to the school debt tax rate. Voter approval of Questions 1 and 2 would add $277 to the school debt tax rate.

For a more personalized estimate of Question 1 tax impact, multiply your property’s assessed value by 0.00105 to find the annual tax impact (such as $161,022 x 0.00105 = $170 per year).  For a more personalized estimate of Question 1 + Question 2 tax impact, multiply your property’s assessed value by 0.00172 to find the annual tax impact (such as $161,022 x 0.00172 = $277 per year).

Architects determine cost estimates based on their extensive experience, and then add a percentage to cover professional fees, permits, and the “unknowns” such as price variations. That ensures the projects get done even if market conditions change. School districts use a competitive bidding process to be sure they get the best prices. 

However, the district can only borrow up to the amount approved by voters, and those funds can only be used for projects outlined in the bond proposal. Any funds that are not spent must be used to reduce property taxes. Those funds cannot be used for operating costs such as staffing and supplies. 

The Board is not permitted to spend one penny more on the projects (no matter the source of funds) without obtaining additional voter approval. With the help of financial consultants and its architect, WPS has thoroughly researched the proposed projects and their associated costs and has included a contingency amount in the estimated total. That cushion considers potential increases 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.

• February 18, 2025: Voter Registration Deadline 

• March 4, 2025: Deadline to submit Vote by Mail application (by mail) must be in the office of the County Clerk. 

• March 10, 2025 at 3 p.m.: Deadline to submit Vote by Mail Application (in person) must be in the office of the County Clerk. 

• March 11, 2025: Referendum Day 

Any registered voter may vote by mail by completing the Vote By Mail Application and making sure the application reaches the County Clerk’s office by the deadline of March 4 (if sent by mail) or 3 p.m. March 10 (if delivered in person). The Burlington County Clerk's Office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at 50 Rancocas Road (third floor) in Mount Holly.

If you don’t vote by mail, you can cast your ballot at your designated polling place between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Referendum Day, Tuesday, March 11. Check this map to confirm your voting district.

Willingboro Fire House, Districts 13, 25, 29 

Garfield East ECDC, Districts 19, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28

Hawthorne Elementary School, Districts 15,16,17,18

JFK Center, Districts 3, 4, 5, 6 

James A. Cotton Intermediate School, Districts 12,14,20

Memorial Middle School, Districts 31, 32, 33

J. C. Stuart ECDC, Districts 1, 2, 11, 30

Twin Hills Elementary School, Districts 21, 22, 34, 35, 36

W.R. James Elementary School, Districts 7, 8, 9, 1

The state allows school districts to hold bond votes on five specific dates each year: in January, March, September, December, and the General Election date in November. Before a district can schedule a bond referendum, it must get approval from the state's Department of Education. The DOE approved Willingboro’s plan Jan. 6 – just in time to make the deadline for the March ballot. 

Ask for a provisional ballot if you are told you can’t cast a regular ballot for any reason. Those ballots are reviewed after polls close when paperwork can be closely examined. Valid votes will be counted if they are not duplicates.