Frequently Asked Questions

A bond referendum is a vote asking the public for permission to borrow money through the sale of bonds to fund major updates and renovations to the school district. 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.

West Deptford Public Schools pursued the bond referendum after realizing that its facilities needed significant upgrades, repairs, and improvements that couldn’t be financed through the annual operating budget. A thorough assessment of the district’s infrastructure needs, along with community engagement, shaped the decision to seek voter approval for long-term funding through a bond referendum. The referendum provides a pathway to making the necessary investments in schools while maintaining a balanced budget and protecting educational programs.

A bond referendum is a smart financial strategy to fund large-scale school projects because improvements made with bond funding qualify for a special type of state aid.  For West Deptford, this is a $23.8 million advantage that the district cannot get when projects are paid for through the annual operating budget.

Typically, the operating budget can't absorb these kinds of large-scale, long-term capital improvements without a significant sacrifice to the education program. School districts operate under tight budgetary restrictions, including state-imposed limits on how much they can raise in revenue each year. Funding projects through a bond takes those costs outside the operating budget and outside the state-imposed limits -- while bringing the advantage of state aid.

By state law, funds obtained through a bond referendum can only be used for the capital improvements planned in that referendum. Bond funds can be used to improve existing facilities or to build new facilities. Bond funds cannot be used for salaries, supplies or other day-to-day operational costs.

The district held a Virtual Community Forum on the bond referendum on February 25. The forum was recorded for community members who could not join that night and can be viewed here.  

Upgrades to heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems would make them more energy-efficient, which saves money. Replacing old systems or select components also reduces the risk of repairs.

Green-Fields Elementary School is an example. A state incentive program helped fund HVAC improvements there and since then, costs for heat/AC bills have dropped $2,000 to $3,000 per month. The school's former AC system typically struggled, yet had no issues during the relatively warm start to the 2024-25 school year.

Green-Fields also benefits from a building management system that can be programmed for peak performance and adjusted remotely if necessary. Voter approval on March 11 would expand on this approach to address similar needs at all schools.

After the bond referendum that passed in 2015, the district resurfaced just the top layer of the track and replaced both the base and top layers of the tennis courts. In this 2025 referendum, the district proposes replacing both the base and surface layers of the track and resurfacing just the top layer of the tennis courts. These timelines are expected for outdoor surfaces.

Auditorium seating is expensive. The most recent price quote (December 2023) for 36 replacement seats and 20 armrests was nearly $13,000 – not including removal of the old seats or installation of the new ones. West Deptford High School’s auditorium has about 606 seats. WP has replaced broken chairs/armrests as needed, and the director of our Facilities Department has personally reupholstered many. If voters approve bond funding, chairs in the entire room would be able to be reupholstered.

If the referendum is approved, the district would start work on improvements in the summer of 2026 with planned completion of all projects by fall 2028.

New roofing was installed at the Middle School and High School as part of the 2015 bond referendum. Issues with that work, specifically in regard to the roof scuppers, caused some roofing to settle in ways that allow rainwater to pool. That led to leaks and damaged installation in some areas.  

WD worked with professionals to consider litigation again with the contractor charged with installing that roofing. The cost and time of the process, as well as the unlikeliness of financial reimbursement, were factors in the decision not to pursue litigation.  

By including this necessary work in the 2025 referendum, the district can take advantage of state aid to offset costs. Existing solar panels would be removed and then re-installed on new roofing.

Our elementary schools were designed for the days when half-day kindergarten was the standard. When West Deptford extended kindergarten to a full day, twice as many classrooms were needed in our elementary buildings.

WD also was awarded state funding to provide tuition-free Preschool. That required more space than if WD only offered the mandated preschool services for students identified as having learning challenges. The district now has Preschoolers on a waiting list, and continued state funding hinges on meeting that need.

Preschool is a driver of space demands because it attracts the most quickly-growing population, and because class sizes are limited to 15 students each. The district is currently using ALL available classrooms to handle the increased population.

• Creating more preschool classrooms in an Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) would open up space in our elementary schools.

• Last year, the state awarded WD about $2.6 million to provide students with tuition-free preschool. This funding is at risk if we cannot meet requirements to include more students. This state funding pays for operating costs, but not for building necessary new classrooms. 

With an aggressive schedule for design and construction, the renovated building could open as an expanded Early Childhood Development Center in time to welcome more preschoolers in late 2027. The latest forecast for opening is fall of 2028. 

Early discussion of a bond referendum included the idea of synthetic turf fields. The Board of Education discussed this at length and ultimately did not include turf fields in the referendum for several reasons:

1. Budget Constraints: Turf fields can be a significant financial investment. The turf fields were removed to reduce the overall referendum budget and ensure that other higher-priority projects were funded.

2. Community Feedback: Community feedback indicated that turf fields were not seen as high of a priority as other needs, such as building renovations or academic-focused improvements.

3. Maintenance and Upkeep Costs: While turf fields can reduce certain types of maintenance (such as mowing), they still require costly upkeep over time. Most turf fields need to be upgraded every 10 years.

4. Focus on Core Needs: The referendum scope prioritized projects focused on infrastructure improvements and repairs, leaving amenities like turf fields for later consideration.

Bond funding brings two advantages that keep costs lower for the local tax base. 

• First, it provides access to state aid to cover a share of the costs. Without voter-approved bond funding, the district would not qualify for as much state aid to take care of needs such as HVAC system upgrades, a new early childhood development center, and science lab renovations.   

• Second, it allows the district to have up-front funding for these long-term needs. Getting these projects done in the next three or four years eliminates the risk of inflation that could cause them to be more expensive in 10 or 15 years.

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 State of New Jersey has several programs that provide property tax relief, especially for people who are older or disabled. 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. The applicant's income cannot exceed $500,000.

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 for 2024 tax filings. Other current programs are the NJ $250 Senior Citizen Property Tax Deduction and the Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters (ANCHOR). 

As of 2025, these programs share a single application process. Learn more about these programs on the state’s website or by calling 800-882-6597. 

Voter approval would start the process of more detailed project planning and the issuance of bonds to fund those improvements. WD'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 for 2026.

Property assessments are determined by West Deptford Township 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 assessed value at NJpropertyrecords.com.

If your home’s assessment is different from the West Deptford average, you can estimate your tax impact with a calculator. Please note that the estimated tax impact is an average over the 25-year term of the investment.

First, find your home’s assessed value (not market value) with this database. Then multiply that value by 0.001907 to find the annual tax impact. 

The average assessed value for a home in West Deptford is $201,605, so the calculation is: $201,605 x 0.001907 = $384 per year. Divide that number by 12 to determine the estimated monthly increase ($32/month for WD's bond proposal).

The estimated tax impact of this referendum is based on the average home assessment released for 2024. Reassessments often increase the entire tax base, and that actually lowers the tax rate per $100 assessed value. That's because a school district can only collect the amount in taxes necessary to make the annual payment. A higher tax base would require a lower tax rate to meet the required payment amount.

The annual payment would be determined after bonds are sold during a competitive bidding process. From that point on (unless the district refinances bonds to take advantage of lower intertest rates), the annual payment is fixed without regard to the total assessed property value of West Deptford Township.

To participate in this special election by mail or in person, your voter registration must reflect your current name and address. The deadline for that is February 18.

From this State of New Jersey webpage, you can find links to check your registration status, update your registration, upload proof of identification to complete voter registration, and download a paper form to use for registration.

You must be a registered voter to use the state's Vote By Mail program. To request a mail-in ballot be sent to you, your application must be received by the Gloucester County Clerk’s Office by March 4. To request a mail-in ballot in person, you can hand-deliver your application to that office by 3 p.m. March 10. 

Either method makes use of the state's Vote By Mail program. The in-person option has a later deadline and avoids the U.S. Postal Service -- but uses the same paperwork for mailed ballots.

Mail-in ballots must be submitted with a postmark of March 11, or they can be dropped in a designated count collection box or hand-delivered to the County Board of Elections, 550 Grove Road, West Deptford, by 8 p.m. March 11. Vote By Mail ballots cannot be submitted at in-person polls.

Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the RiverWinds Community Center, 1000 RiverWinds Drive, West Deptford. Voters can use any entrance and look for signage directing them to the Community/Banquet Rooms, where the polls will be set up.

If, for any reason, you are told at the polls that you cannot vote, request a provisional ballot. They are a safety net that ensures legitimate votes are counted. Valid votes will be counted if not duplicates.

These are major renovations and improvements. It would take several years for the district to address these issues through the operating budget. In addition, the district would not have the advantage of $23.8 million in state funding to pay for these improvements and the costs would be subject to inflation, which would make them more expensive.