Long Beach Island School Referendum Coming Up On Tuesday

LONG BEACH ISLAND, NJ - Voters in the Long Beach Island Consolidated school district will go to the polls on Sept. 26 to vote on a $18.4 million bond referendum.

The first part of the referendum asks voters if they want to spend $14.6 million for expanding the Ethel A. Jacobsen Elementary School in Surf City. The expansion would include eight new classrooms, an art room student services offices and a gymnasium, according to the the Ocean County Clerk's website.

District officials have been trying to close the Long Beach Island Grade School in Ship Bottom for several years and consolidate school services into one building.

The second part of the referendum asks voters if they want to spend $3.8 million to fund improvements to the building. The improvements would include upgrading of the heating and air conditioning systems, replacement of aging ceilings, additional lighting and replacement of aging electrical panels.

The school district has five sending municipalities - Barnegat Light, Harvey Cedars, Long Beach Township, Ship Bottom and Surf City.

If voters approve both questions, the annual tax impact on a home assessed at $600,000 would be an additional $55 per year. If only question 1 passes, the tax impact would be $43 more per year.

The district is eligible for $1.6 million in debt service aid, but only if the second question is approved.

"Proceeds received by the Board of Education from the sale of the Long Beach Island Grade School either shall be used to pay direct costs of the projects and to reduce the bond authorization or shall be transferred to the debt service fund to pay principal of obligations issued under this bond proposal," according to the explanation on the Ocean County Clerk's website.

For more information on the proposed referendum, visit lbischools.org.