Learn About $92.5M School Referendum At Forum In Lacey

LACEY, NJ — Want to learn more about the $92.5 million bond referendum you'll be voting on in March? The Lacey Township School District is hosting a community information forum on Tuesday night.

The forum will be held at the Lacey Township High School Auditorium on Jan. 28 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

All residents are invited to attend and ask questions about the upcoming referendum. For those unable to attend in person, a video recording will be made available on the district website afterwards.

Community members will hear from the district’s architect, financial advisor, and bond counsel, as well as district representatives who can explain firsthand the benefits of bond funding and the critical need for improvements.

If all three questions of the $92.5 million March 11 are approved, state aid would cover up to 40 percent of the eligible costs in state aid, estimated at $35.8 million, which would offset the local taxpayers’ share of the total costs. Without voter approval, the updates would still be needed, but the district would be responsible for 100% of the costs.

Here’s what voters will be presented with on the ballot:

• Question 1 on the ballot would bring the district about $30 million in improvements with no tax increase, with the state paying an estimated $12 million of the project costs. The district has timed the referendum to take place when a drop in debt service occurs. With voter approval in March, tax payments for this next investment would pick up where previous payments drop off.
• Question 2 on the ballot would bring about $38 million in improvements to the district, with the state paying approximately $15.2 toward the total costs. The owner of a home assessed at the township average would see a $12* per month increase in school debt tax.
• Question 3 on the ballot would bring $24.5 million in improvements to the district, with the state paying approximately $8.6 million toward the total costs. The owner of a home assessed at the township average would see an $8* per month increase in school debt tax.

The estimated tax increase is based on the average assessed home in Lacey Township, which is $287,011.

“We invite our community members to join us for this information session so they can hear directly from our professional consultants and staff members about the need for these projects,” said Acting Superintendent William W. Zylinski. “We want to be sure everyone understands the benefit of getting state debt service aid and upfront funding toward these projects.”

Visit www.laceyschools.org/vote to learn more.