Voting 'YES' on Nov. 5 Bond Referendum Will Provide Tax Relief for Residents, BOE VP Says

The following information was provided by Westfield Board of Education's Vice President.

Dear Westfield Residents,

I’m so excited to be writing this letter.  It’s extremely rare that we get to vote on something that will provide TAX RELIEF – that’s right – TAX RELIEF.  On November 5th, Westfield residents will have that opportunity.  Westfield residents just need to vote YES on Question #3—the replacement bond referendum.

In a nutshell, here are your choices:

Vote YES, and Westfield receives a $2.7 million state grant, which will be applied toward the remaining $6.7 million school roof project.

Vote NO, and Westfield’s obligation to pay $6.7 million toward the roof project will remain. Westfield will not receive the $2.7 million grant from the State.

Here’s a timeline that led us to this point:

      December 2012: Westfield residents passed a $13.6 million bond to fix/replace roofs on all 12 school buildings.

      March 2013: The Westfield district received bids for the roofing projects that would begin in June 2013 in the amount of $6.9 million.

      May 2013: State released school construction funding that had been frozen for several years and was NOT available when the BOE proposed the December 2012 bond.

      May 2013: The Westfield district submitted grant applications to the State for the remaining roof work.

      August 2013: Westfield was awarded $2.7 million in grants, which is approximately 40% of $6.7 million (the remaining money from the December 2012 bond), subject to the approval of a replacement bond for $6.7 million.

      June 2013: Work began on the initial roof projects that amounted to $6.9 million of the $13.6 million.

      November 2013: Vote on replacement referendum so Westfield can receive the $2.7 million state grant.

      June 2014: Work will begin on the remaining roof projects regardless of outcome of the November 2013 vote.

Remember: 

In order to receive the money from the State, Westfield residents MUST accept the grant by voting YES on the $6.7 million replacement bond (the remainder of the December 2012 bond).

The District is NOT spending more money. The District is NOT adding any projects.   The District WILL fix the remaining roofs no matter the outcome of the November 5th vote on this referendum. However, if the replacement bond passes on November 5th, Westfield residents will pay $2.7 million less. In other words, Westfield residents will realize $2.7 million in tax relief. 

Therefore, I urge you to vote YES on Question 3, the replacement bond referendum. I know I will. 

For more information, check out our website or email the board at wboe@westfieldnjk12.org.

Sincerely,

Rosanne L. Kurstedt

Vice President, Westfield Board of Education