COLTS NECK – The Colts Neck K-8 School District Board of Education will seek voter approval of a $34.6 million facilities improvement referendum on Oct. 2. The special election will be held from 4-8 p.m. at regular polling locations in the township.
The referendum will seek authorization to undertake alterations, renovations and improvements at the district’s three schools: the Conover Road Primary School, the Conover Road Elementary School and the Cedar Drive Middle School.
Voters will be asked to approve two separate proposals.
The first question will ask voters to consider the following: “The board is seeking to upgrade and renovate the Cedar Drive Middle School and the Conover Road Elementary School to provide for new/upgraded flooring, casework, windows, roofing, toilet facilities, ADA improvements, HVAC system, classroom/emergency lighting, doors/hardware and electrical system, interior upgrades and site improvements including pavement improvements; upgrade and renovate the Conover Road Primary School to provide for new/upgraded doors and hardware and reconstruction of parking lots and driveways; and reconfiguration of the Conover campus roads to provide safety/security improvements.”
The cost of the proposed improvements in the first question is not to exceed $24,816,000.
The second question will ask voters to consider the following: “The board is seeking to upgrade, renovate and expand the Cedar Drive Middle School to provide for the addition of a (600-seat) auditorium, stage and ancillary areas, a new fitness room, new toilet facilities, gymnasium storage and replacement of canopy.”
The cost of the proposed improvements in the second question is not to exceed $9,790,000.
According to district administrators, Colts Neck would receive 34 percent of the cost through state aid for the items included in the first question and about 2.73 percent of the cost through state aid for the items included in second question. The second question can only pass if the first question is approved by voters.
District administrators said the referendum, if approved, would increase school taxes paid by Colts Neck property owners. The owner of the a home assessed at $818,792, which is the average assessed valued of a home in Colts Neck, would see a $282 increase if only the first question is approved and a $448 increase if both questions are approved.
Detailed information about the referendum may be found on the district’s website, www.coltsneckschools.org under Colts Next Initiative.