Bond Proposal Question No 1.

The Board of Education of the Township of Cedar Grove in the County of Essex, New Jersey (the “Board”) is authorized to (a) undertake various upgrades, renovations, and improvements at Cedar Grove High School, including but not limited to the repair or replacement of various portions of roofing, repairs and upgrades to the HVAC system and related equipment, electrical upgrades, abatement of hazardous materials, renovations to the science classrooms, and all related work, including acquisition and installation of fixtures, furniture, equipment, and any site work; (b) undertake various upgrades, renovations, and improvements at Memorial Middle School, including but not limited to the repair or replacement of various portions of roofing, repairs and upgrades to the HVAC system to add cooling to multiple spaces, abatement of hazardous materials, and all related work, including acquisition and installation of fixtures, equipment, and any site work; (c) undertake various upgrades, renovations, and improvements at North End Elementary School, including but not limited to repair or replacement of various portions of roofing, abatement of hazardous materials, repairs and upgrades to the HVAC system to add cooling to multiple spaces, and all related work, including acquisition and installation of fixtures, equipment, and any site work; (d) undertake various upgrades, renovations, and improvements at South End Elementary School, including but not limited to repair or replacement of various portions of roofing, abatement of hazardous materials, repairs and upgrades to the HVAC system to add cooling to multiple spaces, and all related work, including acquisition and installation of fixtures, equipment, and any site work; (e) appropriate $37,722,131 for such improvements; and (f) issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $37,722,131.

The final eligible costs for the projects approved by the New Jersey Commissioner of Education are $37,722,131 (consisting of $18,450,631 for Cedar Grove High School, $11,097,400 for Memorial Middle School, $3,739,600 for North End Elementary School, and $4,434,500 for South End Elementary School). The projects include $0 for school facility construction elements in addition to the facilities efficiency standards developed by the Commissioner of Education or not otherwise eligible for State support pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:7G-5(g). The State debt service aid percentage is 40% of the annual debt service due with respect to the final eligible costs of the projects. The Board of Education is authorized to transfer funds among the projects approved at this election.

Do you approve this Bond Proposal Question No. 1?

Bond Proposal Question No 2.

(Bond Proposal Question No. 2 will only go into effect if Bond Proposal Question No. 1 is also approved by the voters at this election.)
The Board of Education of the Township of Cedar Grove in the County of Essex, New Jersey (the “Board”) is authorized to (a) undertake various interior upgrades, renovations, and improvements at Leonard R. Parks School, including but not limited to the construction of an elevator and other ADA accessibility upgrades, electrical upgrades, repairs and upgrades to interiors, exteriors, and safety systems, abatement of hazardous materials, reconfiguration of classroom spaces, reconfiguration and expansion of parking spaces, improvements and upgrades to pedestrian and vehicular traffic access, and all related work, including acquisition and installation of fixtures, furniture, equipment, and any site work; (b) appropriate $24,477,686 for such improvements; and (c) issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $24,477,686.

The final eligible costs for the projects approved by the New Jersey Commissioner of Education are $24,477,686. The projects include $0 for school facility construction elements in addition to the facilities efficiency standards developed by the Commissioner of Education or not otherwise eligible for State support pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:7G-5(g). The State debt service aid percentage is 40% of the annual debt service due with respect to the final eligible costs of the projects. The Board of Education is authorized to transfer funds among the projects approved at this election.

Do you approve this Bond Proposal Question No. 2?

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

At this election, the voters of the school district are being asked to consider Bond Proposal Questions No. 1 and No. 2. As set forth above, Bond Proposal Question No. 2 can only go into effect if Bond Proposal Question No. 1 is also approved by the voters at this election, although Bond Proposal No. 1, if approved, can go into effect even if Bond Proposal No. 2 is rejected.
If Bond Proposal Questions No. 1 and No. 2 are approved by the voters at this election, the Board of Education will be authorized to (a) undertake various upgrades, renovations, and improvements at Cedar Grove High School, including but not limited to the repair or replacement of various portions of roofing, repairs and upgrades to the HVAC system and related equipment, electrical upgrades, abatement of hazardous materials, and renovations to the science classrooms; (b) undertake various upgrades, renovations, and improvements at Memorial Middle School, including but not limited to the repair or replacement of various portions of roofing, repairs and upgrades to the HVAC system to add cooling to multiple spaces, and abatement of hazardous materials; (c) undertake various upgrades, renovations, and improvements at North End Elementary School, including but not limited to repair or replacement of various portions of roofing, repairs and upgrades to the HVAC system to add cooling to multiple spaces, and abatement of hazardous materials; (d) undertake various upgrades, renovations, and improvements at South End Elementary School, including but not limited to repair or replacement of various portions of roofing, repairs and upgrades to the HVAC system to add cooling to multiple spaces, and abatement of hazardous materials; and (e) undertake various interior upgrades, renovations, and improvements at Leonard R. Parks School, including but not limited to the construction of an elevator and other ADA accessibility upgrades, electrical upgrades, repairs and upgrades to interiors, exteriors, and safety systems, abatement of hazardous materials, reconfiguration of classroom spaces, reconfiguration and expansion of parking spaces, and improvements and upgrades to pedestrian and vehicular traffic access. The foregoing improvements shall include acquisition and installation of fixtures, furniture, equipment, and any site work.

The total cost for the projects will be $62,199,817, and the Board of Education will be authorized to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $62,199,817. The final eligible costs for the projects approved by the New Jersey Commissioner of Education are $62,199,817 (consisting of $18,450,631 for Cedar Grove High School, $11,097,400 for Memorial Middle School, $3,739,600 for North End Elementary School, $4,434,500 for South End Elementary School and $24,477,686 for Leonard R. Parks School). The projects include $0 for school facility construction elements in addition to the facilities efficiency standards developed by the Commissioner of Education or not otherwise eligible for State support pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:7G-5(g). The State debt service aid percentage is 40% of the annual debt service due with respect to the final eligible costs of the projects. The Board of Education is authorized to transfer funds among the projects approved at this election.

Cedar Grove Public Schools

Cedar Grove Public Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Bond Referendum Background

How is a bond referendum different from the annual budget?

Why are improvements needed now?

What happens if the referendum is not approved?

Shouldn't these facilities issues have been handled through regular maintenance?

School Bond Question Proposal

What is a referendum?

What is the process for authorizing bonds to fund a capital project?

Why is the district holding a referendum now?

What will the bond proposal look like?

Why is it written this way?

How is school facilities aid determined and provided?

What if more money is needed?

What if the projects come in under budget?

What is the different between assessed value and appraised / market value?

What impact will the recent reassessment have on the tax impact for the referendum?

Can anything be done to minimize the tax impact for older residents?

Funding Facts

Why would the proposed projects result in long-term savings for the district and the community it serves?

What if costs end up lower than estimates?

What if costs end up higher than estimates?

Voting Information

Who can vote in the bond referendum?

Will I be able to vote by mail in this election?

What if I go to a polling place and I'm told I can't vote?

Project Related Questions

Why is the district looking to do a roof restoration rather than a replacement?

Can you provide an estimated cost breakdown for each of the projects?