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Referendum 2009 - Questions and Answers |
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Introduction The Edgewater Board of Education welcomes your questions and/or comments via email, phone, or in person. Web site: www.evgschool.org E-mail: tedblu@evgschool.org District telephone information line: 201-945-4106 ext. 5
Overview Despite the addition to the Eleanor Van Gelder School (EVG), which was originally planned in 2001-2002, and completed in 2005, school enrollment has accelerated at rates beyond previous expectations to require a further expansion of the school system. Enrollment was further impacted by an unexpected increase of 110 new students in the current school year. As of September 24, 2009 the school has 595 students enrolled, which exceeds current capacity. The need for a new school has become not only necessary but immediate.
The district has been closely monitoring student enrollment and evaluating long-term facilities options since the last expansion was completed in 2005. To accommodate the increasing enrollment, a March 2009 referendum proposed building a new school at the site of the George Washington School. The plan encompassed what the board of education determined to be the best and most fiscally sound option. It was narrowly rejected by voters. A modestly altered and updated plan to construct a new two-and-one-half-story elementary school at the George Washington School site on River Road has been submitted to the state for review. The Board of Education is poised once again to conduct a bond referendum vote on Tuesday, December 8, 2009, to fund this project. It is the Board’s concerted view that a new school on the George Washington site is not only the most cost efficient and effective solution to meet the district’s enrollment needs, but at this point may be the only solution.
Q4. Why didn’t the district consider a new school at the time of the
EVG expansion? Q5. What are the differences between the referendum we voted on in March 2009 and the new one to be voted on in December? The district’s architect and construction manager were asked by the board to find ways to cut costs for the proposed referendum. Consequently, they were able to reduce the costs by $2 million. The revised referendum differs in the following ways: · Reduced labor costs for installation · Eliminated LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification, not the components · Eliminated “green roof” (will create bid alternates and if costs come in far below estimates this element could be reinstated). · Reduced professional fees and overall costs due to lower project costs and current economic climate Q6. What does the proposed project include?
Q7. What other options, if any, did the board explore before
deciding on a new elementary school? OPTION 1 Additions to EVG school OPTION 2 Major renovations and additions at George Washington School OPTION 3 Build new school adjacent to George Washington School (no demolition) OPTION 4 Build new school at George Washington School site (demolition of existing school) Options were removed from consideration for a variety of reasons including: the adverse impact to the physical plant, site limitations, impact to program and playgrounds, short-term or “band-aid” solutions and not the most financially prudent plan.
The primary reason for the board selecting Option 4 instead of the other alternatives is: · Believed to be the most educationally appropriate · Creates the opportunity for an early childhood learning center in advance of mandated full day pre-school (required within the next five years and funded by the state) · Minimizes the scope of significant redistricting · Meets the district’s goal of a long-term solution · Maintains fiscal responsibility Q8. What will happen to EVG School?
Q9. Assuming the referendum passes on December 8, 2009, when will construction work begin, and when will it be completed? The building project is expected to begin with demolition and preparation of the George Washington School site in the fall of 2010. Construction on the new facility would occur in the spring of 2011 and be ready for students in fall of 2012. Q10. Why do we need to do this now?
Q11. What if expansion is needed in the future?
Q12. How will traffic be handled at the new school? District officials have recently met with the town officials to discuss these concerns. A traffic plan was discussed and was given a verbal approval that safety of students, staff and neighbors has been considered and is designed into the new plan. BOND PROPOSAL, TAX IMPACT & COSTS Q13. What is this referendum going to cost me?
Q14. What is debt service aid and how will it help the district?
Q15. What will the proposed referendum cost me?
The board of education will project the estimated tax increase to the average taxpayer based on the New Jersey Department of Education's approval of the proposed project and the amount of approved state support. This information will be provided in fall 2009. Q 16. What is the tax impact if the referendum fails? Taxes will go up. The growing enrollment requires that more students must be educated. Either we will educate them in Edgewater in a new school or we will pay other school districts to do it. The difference in cost between the two alternatives may not be significant. On the other hand, educating our children in Edgewater in a new state-of- the-art building will accrue benefits not only to our children but to the Edgewater community as a whole. Q17. What are the estimated additional staffing costs of adding an elementary school? Initially, the new school is estimated to cost the district approximately $101,000/year. This cost includes a nurse, secretary, and a custodian. It is expected that any tuition received by the district will significantly offset these costs. Q18. How much revenue does the district expect to generate through the sale of SRECs? A conservative estimate expects that the district may generate approximately $275,000 over the next fifteen years in the sale of SRECs. In addition, the district hopes to save another $285,000 in energy costs at EVG School over 25 years ENERGY EFFICIENCY: Q 19. What efforts will be made to ensure a new energy efficient school? The department of education requires that all schools constructed in the state meet a certain minimum level of energy efficient criteria. The architect will comply with this Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria to ensure that the building includes many “green” elements for heating and cooling as well as lighting. Q 20. What energy efficient systems, if any, are being planned for the Eleanor Van Gelder School? The district is proposing to install a photovoltaic or solar panel system on the roof of the Eleanor Van Gelder School as a separate question of the referendum. Q 21. Is the district eligible for state funds for the proposed solar project? Yes, the district is eligible for a portion of state aid on the solar project. The specific amount will be announced in the late fall after receiving notification from the state. Q 22. What other funding sources are available? Are there grants and rebates? Several rebate programs were offered but discontinued. New rebate programs are being announced and initiated every few months. As this happens the district and its architect will be vigorously pursuing any and all funding when it is made available. Q 23. What are SRECs?
Tax Programs for Senior Citizens Q 24. Are there programs available for senior citizens to offset the tax increases of a proposed referendum? Property Tax Reimbursement Eligibility Requirements You may be eligible for a reimbursement of the difference between the amount of property taxes you paid for the base year (the year you first became eligible) and the amount paid for the year for which you are applying for a reimbursement if you met all the following requirements for the base year and for each succeeding year, up to and including the year for which you are claiming the reimbursement. 1. You are age 65 or older or receiving Federal Social Security disability benefits; and 2. You have lived in New Jersey continuously for at least the last 10 years, as either a homeowner or a renter; and 3. You have owned and lived in your home (or have leased a site in a mobile home park on which you have placed a manufactured or mobile home that you own) for at least the last 3 years; and 4. You have paid the full amount of property taxes (or site fees if you are a mobile home owner) that were due on your home for the base year and for each succeeding year, up to and including the year for which you are claiming the reimbursement; and 5. You meet the income limits for the base year and for each succeeding year, up to and including the year for which you are claiming the reimbursement. Residents applying for the 2008 reimbursement must have total income for 2007 that is $60,000 or less and for 2008 that is $70,000 or less. These limits apply regardless of marital/civil union status. However, applicants who are married or in a civil union must report combined income of both spouses/CU partners. If your residence is in a multiple-unit building that you own, and the building has more than four units, you are not eligible for a property tax reimbursement. You are also not eligible if the building has four units or less but more than one commercial unit. 2009 Income Limits Residents applying for the 2009 reimbursement must have total income for 2008 that is $70,000 or less and for 2009 that is $80,000 or less. These limits apply regardless of marital/civil union status. However, applicants who are married or in a civil union must report combined income of both spouses/CU partners. Q25. Where can I get more information?
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