Lawrence Township To Vote Tuesday On Schools Bond Referendum. Learn More

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — Residents in Lawrence Township will head to the polls on Tuesday, March 11 to vote on a $94.9 million bond referendum put forward by the school district.

The referendum would fund long-lasting building improvements at the district's Middle School and High School joint campus. Changes are proposed to the auditorium, and Middle School cafeteria.

The proposed projects provide essential upgrades needed to support student achievement and better prepare students for high school through grade realignment.

The original building is 75 years old, with this project administrators are planning to build structures that will last for the next 75 years. The project is comprehensive and will touch all aspects of the Middle School spaces and programs.

The total cost of the project is $98.9 million with $4 million in capital reserve used as down payment. The total amount put to bond would be $94.9 million.

Interest rate is currently estimated at 4.25 percent, but school administrators are expecting to receive a better rate. The term (or payback period) of the bond is 25 years.

If the referendum is approved, the owner of an average assessed home in Lawrence would see an estimated tax impact of about $27 per month, district officials said.

The increase to school debt tax would not appear on tax bills until July 2026.

District officials said that eligible senior citizens will have no impact on their property taxes if they qualify for the state's Senior Freeze Program.

The program, administered by the New Jersey Division of Taxation, reimburses eligible homeowners for property tax increases by locking in the taxable value of their homes.

To qualify, residents must be 65 or older, own their home, and have had a 2024 income of $169,268 or less.

Those eligible will be reimbursed for any property tax increases resulting from the referendum.

More information on the Senior Freeze Program is available at www.nj.gov/treasury.

Without voter approval, officials said these critical repairs would still need to be made, but without the help of state aid.

Proposed improvements include:

• A two-story addition at Lawrence Middle School, featuring an elevator

• Specialized learning spaces for science, art, and life skills; designated special education spaces

• Dedicated support spaces for the nurse, child study team, and guidance suites.

• Renovations to the technology, life skills, and music classrooms.

Security and safety upgrades include:

• A new secure visitor entrance and vestibule

• A traffic drop-off lane at LMS

• Increased student parking on campus

• Additional parking for building and event access

• Revisions to traffic circulation.

Capital maintenance improvements would include:

• Roof replacements

• Bathroom renovations

• Asbestos abatement

• Kitchen and cafeteria renovations

• Parking lot repaving

• Upgrades to restrooms

Parking Improvement

• Increased parking
• Safe drop-off and pick-up

The special election will determine funding for improvements across the school district.

Where’s Your Polling Station

Here are the details on the polling station:

• Districts 2, 9: Slackwood Fire House
• Districts 3, 6, 8, 11: Lawrence Road Fire House
• Districts 1, 4, 7, 15, 20: Lawrenceville Fire House
• District 5: Project Freedom
• Districts 12, 13, 14, 19: Lawrence Senior Center
• District 16: Lawrence Square Village
• Districts 10, 17, 18: Lawrence Municipal Building

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