Schools
Votes Still Being Tallied For West Morris Regional Schools Referendum
Voters in the Chesters, Mendhams, and Washington Township cast their ballots Tuesday for a $26 million school referendum.
MENDHAM-CHESTER, NJ — Votes were still being counted late Tuesday night for a special school election in the West Morris Regional High School District.
Residents of Chester Borough, Chester Township, Mendham Borough, Mendham Township, and Washington Township headed to the polls Tuesday to decide the fate of a $26 million bond proposal, which would fund improvements at both high schools.
Officials said taxpayers would get a reduction in the school debt part of their property tax bills if the issue passes, compared to the current bond issue that taxpayers are almost finished paying off.
Find out what's happening in Mendham-Chesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Morris County Clerk's Office had not reported any results by 11 p.m. Tuesday, so Patch will update readers on Wednesday.
The $26 million plan also includes updates to both schools' technology labs and the field house shower and storage facilities. The West Morris Mendham culinary arts room would be refurbished to improve student learning and meet student interest, and the public address system would be upgraded to match West Morris Central's.
Find out what's happening in Mendham-Chesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Here is the tax breakdown for Mendham and Chester if the referendum passes, according to the school district:
| Community | Average Assessed Value | Annual Cost Of Replacement Debt | Cost Savings Per Year |
| Chester Borough | $520,000 | $66 | -$35 |
| Chester Township | $660,000 | $123 | -$64 |
| Mendham Borough | $695,000 | $121 | -$63 |
| Mendham Township | $940,000 | $126 | -$66 |
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