For the Dec. 4 issue.
Vote common sense
on Dec. 9
To the editor:
The Chesterfield School Board referendum, the facts:
1. The school board says "time is of the essence." Money is cheap to borrow and the school district can receive a partial grant from the state. They want to build a new school according to their demographics. They say we will have about 450 more students in 5 years.
Fact: 13 years ago the board said the same thing. They were 100 percent wrong. Money is cheaper to borrow now than in 1990. The board said in 1990 we would have over 400 new students, but we only have 25 more, and the school district has built more classrooms since 1990.
2. The board implies that the state will mandate a new school if the referendum fails to pass. They implied that the state would force the building of a new school in 1990 if we did not build one.
Fact: The state never mandated the building of a new school.
3. The school board says that the cost of delaying the building of a new school is about 4 percent per annum.
Question: How much does it cost to pay for a new school that is not needed?
4. The board says that the district is eligible for more than $3 million in state aid for the proposed new school.
Fact: In 1990 the district was not eligible for this much state aid. In the future, the district may be eligible for more than this.
5. The board says that each new house will bring 0.7 new students.
Fact: In the last 10 years Chesterfield had 187 new housing starts, and only 25 new students. Why you may ask? Chesterfield is not a first house community. The residents are usually on their second or third house with older than elementary school children.
6. The school board says that the average house in Chesterfield is assessed at $212,000, and the estimated five year average yearly increase in taxes is $290.
Fact: Just look at how your taxes went up without a new school. What about the cost of the new teachers, the heating, cooling and general maintenance of the proposed new school? The township indicates there will be a re-assessment in one year. How much will this increase your taxes?
7. The proposed bond is structured so that the payment is small in the beginning and increases over time.
Question: Did Burlington County structure its bond similarly for the new Northern Burlington Regional high school to soften the tax impact in the beginning?
8. The board said that the current school capacity is 322 students in their proposed September referendum. In the school board’s November newsletter they say that the functional capacity is 271 students.
Question: Did Chesterfield lose part of its current school building?
9. The Township Committee has informed the school that the current sewer capacity (125,000 gallons) was enough and available for a new school now. A new addition to the Wagner Sewer Plant is required (projected completion date is 2007) to increase the capacity to 400,000 gallons for the new houses and school.
Question: If the current sewer capacity is used up for a new school and not available for the new houses until the new addition is added to Wagner Sewer Plant (projected date is 2007) then aren’t we getting the "cart before the horse?"
10. Facts: The governor and DEP are trying to control sprawl in New Jersey. The focus is now on impact fees. Both the governor and the New Jersey Builders Association support impact fees. There is pending legislation that supports impact fees. This bill would require developers to pay for school building and expansion and community development.
Question: Why hurry to pass a bond referendum now?
Some day Chesterfield may need a new school, but that time has not yet come. On Dec. 9 vote with your common sense!
Joseph Sabat
Chesterfield