WESTFIELD—Voters overwhelmingly defeated a $16.9 million bond referendum to fund roof repairs at all of the district’s schools and to install a lighted, turf athletic field at the high school.
More than 5,000 voters cast ballots and they rejected the proposal by a 3,874 to 1,508 margin in Monday’s special election.
According to the New Jersey School Boards Association, two other districts approved bond referendums for a total of $13.88 million in school construction.
In Bergen County, Ridgefield voters approved $2.9 million to upgrade science labs in two schools. In Mercer County, Princeton voters approved $10.98 million for renovations to six schools and the administration building.
None of the proposed projects would have received state aid, according to the NJSBA. The ballots specifically noted that the proposals would have qualified for at least 40 percent of eligible costs to be covered by the state, but added the “state has not been approving any capital projects for which state facilities aid is requested.”
The final Tuesday in September is one of five dates a year in which school boards can hold a bond referendum. However, this week’s election date was moved to Monday due to the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur on Tuesday.
