$75.7M School Referendum Approved In Stafford: Unofficial Results

STAFFORD, NJ — Stafford voters approved a $75.7 million bond referendum for the Stafford Township School District this week, according to unofficial results from the Ocean County Clerk's Office.

Unofficial numbers show that the referendum passed with 2,193 votes to 1,500. These numbers will remain unofficial for a few weeks until they are certified by the county.

"The Board of Education thanks Stafford Township residents for voting and looks forward to taking the next steps toward the future of our schools and community," the district shared on their site dedicated to information about the referendum.

Tuesday's vote saw a turnout of 15.27 percent, according to the Ocean County Clerk's Office.

What does this mean for Stafford taxpayers? Projects are expected to begin as soon as summer of 2025.

The average Stafford home is assessed at $294,141, and that taxpayer would see an estimated increase of $22 per month. This increase to school debt tax would not appear on tax bills until 2026. The district offers a tool for homeowners to find their assessed value and estimate their updated tax bill here.

Officials have said that the district's schools are overcrowded and have aging facilities that need to be updated. At an information session ahead of the vote, officials noted that in spite of increasing enrollment, the district has lost 47 percent of state aid since 2018. And a demographic study anticipates enrollment to continue to increase, emphasizing the need for more room.

Read More: 5 Things To Know Ahead Of $75.7M Stafford Schools Bond Referendum