Nutley School Bond Referendum 2017: Overcrowding vs. Taxes

NUTLEY, NJ — A “Bond” thriller of a different type is almost set to debut in Nutley: the Dec. 12 public school referendum. The proposed $70.4 million construction effort would combat overcrowding in the district's schools, but add about $358 to the average homeowner's yearly taxes and would be largely funded by a bond issue.

On Tuesday, Dec. 12 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Nutley voters will head to the polls for the 2017 Nutley special school election to either “yea” or “nay” the proposed bond issue. [See graphic with local polling locations below]

According to Nutley school administrators, the proposed construction project will help to address overcrowding, aging buildings, space shrinking "due to educational program requirements" and a general increase in the school-aged population of the township.

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The proposed projects consist of new exterior additions and interior renovations to Washington, Yantacaw, John H. Walker Middle School and Nutley High School. About $2.4 million of the project's cost would be funded from contributions to the district's capital reserve, leaving a $68 million gap that would need to be plugged with a bond issue. With an estimated debt service aid from New Jersey of 13.75 percent, the local taxpayer bond total would come to $58.67 million, school administrators stated.

The average annual tax increase for a Nutley homeowner with a property assessed at $317,057 would be about $358, school officials stated during a September Board of Education meeting.

• See related article: Nutley School Referendum Looms For Taxpayers (VIDEOS)

If a recent school bond issue in neighboring Belleville is any indication, Nutley’s proposal stands a decent chance of passing. As part of a public question asked during the Nov. 7 General Election, Belleville voters approved a $48.5 million bond issue, which will pay for district-wide school renovations, upgrades and improvements.

The public question to approve the bonds passed by a vote of 1,836 to 1,152, according to the Belleville Township Clerk's Office.

• See related article: Belleville Voters Approve $48.5M School Renovations

FIXING UP NUTLEY'S SCHOOLS: THE DETAILS

Nutley public school administrators previously released a “Frequently Asked Questions” page about the referendum on the district website, which can be seen here.

According to school officials, workers would break ground on the projects in June 2018, with a possible completion date of September 2020.

Here's what will happen if Nutley voters choose not to fund the project, administrators say:

• Overcrowding will worsen
• Class sizes will increase at every elementary school
• Trailers at Yantacaw and Washington will remain as permanent structures (more trailers will be added over time to house additional students, possibly as soon as 2021)
• The district will face a "moderate redistricting initiative" involving Washington, Yantacaw and Spring Garden to accommodate all its elementary students
• New registrants may need to attend a school other than their home/neighborhood school
• Academics will suffer

Nutley school administrators considered several versions of the construction project prior to its final version, which can be seen in full here. The list included:

• Build a New School
• Only Expand the Middle School
• Build on the Oval
• Put Trailers on the Davis Property
• Use the Hoffman LaRoche Property

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Photo: YouTube / NHS - TV