By Peter Elacqua
Staff Writer
MARLBORO – The Marlboro K-8 School District Board of Education will place a $26.3 million referendum in front of voters on Nov. 8.
If the referendum is approved by a simple majority, infrastructure upgrades will be completed at six of the district’s eight schools.
Administrators have said the multi-million dollar cost of the work cannot be accounted for in the district’s regular operating budget and must be the subject of a special referendum.
“The capital requirements we have cannot be addressed in a timely manner through our annual budget,” Superintendent of Schools Eric Hibbs said during a presentation of the referendum. “Despite consistent maintenance, our systems are old. It is increasingly difficult to maintain our systems because outdated parts are no longer available.”
According to the proposal for the capital improvements:
• $6.16 million would be allocated for work at the Marlboro Middle School
• $4.9 million would be allocated for work at the Asher Holmes Elementary School
• $4.73 million would be allocated for work at the Marlboro Elementary School
• $3.97 million would be allocated for work at the Robertsville Elementary School
• $3.93 million would be allocated for work at the Frank Defino Central Elementary School
• $2.61 million would be allocated for work at the Frank J. Dugan Elementary School.
No projects are proposed at the Marlboro Memorial Middle School or at the David C. Abbott Early Learning Center.
Administrators said if the referendum is approved, the school district will receive 40 percent of the total cost in state debt service aid ($10.52 million) and leave $15.78 million to be paid by Marlboro’s property owners.
The scope of the project is expected to include windows, fire alarm systems, temperature control panels, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, electrical boards, feeders, boilers, pumps, switchboards and electric generators.
The $10.52 million payment from the state can only be collected if the referendum is successful, according to district administrators.
Information posted on the district’s website states that “as the 2016-17 school year is underway in Marlboro, we are reminded of the urgent need for improvements to infrastructure in our schools. The (district) will be holding a bond referendum on Nov. 8 for voter approval.
“The needed projects would bring district school buildings up to current standards for efficiency, safety and comfort in the most economical manner. Fortunately, the state still offers debt service that will minimize the costs of the proposed upgrades.”
In terms of the cost of the referendum to property owners, administrators said the owner of a home that is assessed at the township average of $490,000 currently pays $320 per year toward the school district’s debt and that is expected to remain the same until July of 2019.
If the capital improvements referendum is approved by voters, then in July of 2020, because of the retirement of old debt, the owner of a home that is assessed at the township average will begin paying $90 per year toward the school district’s debt – which represents an annual savings of $230 from the current debt payment portion of the school tax bill, according to district administrators.
Administrators will speak with members of the public on dates leading up to Nov. 8 so that residents may ask questions about the referendum. Community information nights will be held in the Marlboro Middle School auditorium at 7 p.m. Oct. 5 and at 7 p.m. Oct. 19.
Four “Coffee and Conversation with the Superintendent” events will be held at the school district’s administration building, 1980 Township Drive, from 9-10:30 a.m. Sept. 28 and Oct. 6, and from noon to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 11 and Oct. 19.
Board meetings will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 13 and at 7 p.m. Oct. 18 during which residents may ask questions or make comments about the referendum, according to district administrators.
