Voters in Haddonfield, Burlington Township approve school bond questions for $84.8 million

Voters in Haddonfield and Burlington Township approved school bond questions totaling $84.8 million in a special election to fund improvements and renovations in their South Jersey districts.

In preliminary unofficial results, a $46.7 million bond issue passed 2,756 to 774, the district said in a statement. It was the largest school bond question in Haddonfield in 25 years and will mean a $369 annual property tax increase for the owner of a home assessed at the borough average.

“Every vote mattered,” the statement said.

» READ MORE: Haddonfield voters will consider $46.7 million school bond referendum, the largest in 25 years

In Burlington County, voters in Burlington Township approved two proposals on the ballot. The first question, to raise $27.4 million, passed 1,210 to 453, the district said. The second question, for $10.7 million, was approved 1,072 to 588, the district said.

In a letter to residents, Burlington Township Superintendent Mary Ann Bell said the approvals would allow the district to “continue strengthening our community by enhancing our schools and investing in our children’s future.”

Haddonfield and Burlington Township were the only districts in the state with referendum questions in Tuesday special’s election, one of five times during the year that school boards may ask voters to approve a bond issue or special question.

The state will cover 40% of the construction costs for both districts, about $22.5 million, according to the New Jersey School Boards Association.

Haddonfield Superintendent Chuck Klaus said the bond issue passed by voters would have an impact on all five schools in the district, which enrolls about 2,700 students. He has identified as a top priority making district buildings fully ADA-compliant.

Other projects include additional classrooms at Haddon, Central, and Tatem elementary schools; and roof, flooring, and window replacements, fire-alarm system upgrades, and auditorium renovations at the middle and high schools. Haddonfield also wants to add full-day kindergarten at the neighborhood schools.

Burlington Township split its bond referendum into two questions for voters to consider. The proposed projects in the first question included renovating the high school cafeteria, roofs, HVAC systems, restrooms, science classrooms, and student lockers.

The second question asked to fund athletic field improvements at Burlington Township High, including new synthetic turf and scoreboards. Fountain Woods Elementary also would get athletic field improvements. The projects proposed in the second question could go forward only if voters approved the first ballot questions.

The district has said only about $6 would be added to the tax bill for a home assessed at the township average of $235,067 in the second year only of the life of the bond. There would be no increase in subsequent years because other debt service will expire, the district said.

In the next special election, on Jan. 28, Pitman voters will consider a $21.3 million bond referendum. The Gloucester County school system wants to install a new heating system and bathrooms at its elementary school. If that proposal passes, a second question would pay for repairs to the athletic track and parking lot at Pitman High School.