$363 Million Bond Referendum Vote Is Thursday For Cherry Hill Public Schools

CHERRY HILL, NJ —Cherry Hill voters decide Thursday whether or not to approve $363 million bond referendum for improvements at the public school district's 19 buildings.

The one-item referendum is on the October 6 special election ballot, and would be for a term of 20 years. Cherry Hill is one of 11 districts across New Jersey with a special election Thursday. Polls are open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Note that some voting locations have changed for the Oct. 6 election only. Voters in districts 3, 8, 9, and 23 who normally vote at St. Thomas Greek Orthodox Church will instead vote at Cherry Hill High School West (2101 Chapel Ave.).

If you're unsure of your polling location, visit the New Jersey Division of Election's Polling Place website and search with your address here: https://voter.svrs.nj.gov/polling-place-search.

The full text of the referendum, as approved by the Board of Education in July, is below.

The money would help fund what the district says is much-needed renovation and/or addition work in all 19 buildings. If the bond passes, the state will fund about one-third of the cost.

"Cherry Hill has been underfunded by the State for 30 years," says Cherry Hill Tomorrow, which is encouraging people to vote Thursday.

Garrison Architects, who developed the bond plan, produced the Cherry Hill Tomorrow website according to the district.

For a home assessed at $300,000, the average annual tax impact would be $531.75, according to the tax impact calculator on the Cherry Hill Tomorrow website. A home assessed at $500,000 would pay $886.25 on average in taxes every year for the 20-year bond term.

The district's last successful bond referendum was in 1999; the $52 million bond funded work until 2005, the district said. Voters defeated a $210 million referendum in 2018.

Superintendent Dr. Joseph Meloche said "foundational pieces of the infrastructure" need work, including doors, HVAC systems, security, and the electrical system.

"The bond really focuses on making sure that our buildings are usable, are safe, and secure," he said in a video posted by the school district.

"Our students, our families, our staff members deserve to be in quality schools," he continued, calling the referendum "a once in a generation opportunity" to make schools better for students and staff.

Residents in opposition to the measure have spoken up at Township Council meetings and on social media, encouraging a "no" vote.

"Asking the taxpayers to hold the bag yet again ... and ... not holding anyone accountable that was in a leadership position on the issue of keeping our schools up to date," said Pnina Mintz at a July meeting. "The taxpayers should not pay for this bond. Be creative. Find that money somewhere else."

School board candidates Nick Gaudio and Jen Sharman also expressed their opposition in their Patch candidate profile, saying placing the referendum on the ballot during a recession "is insensitive to the financial burden that will be placed on the residents of Cherry Hill."

Here is the full text of the bond referendum:

The Board of Education of the Township of Cherry Hill in the County of Camden, New Jersey is authorized (a) to undertake (i) various improvements, alterations, renovations, repairs, and upgrades at Malberg Early Childhood Center, Beck Middle School, Carusi Middle School, Cooper Elementary School, Kilmer Elementary School, Lewis Alternative High School, Paine Elementary School and Woodcrest Elementary School, including acquisition and installation of fixtures, furniture, equipment and any site work, and (ii) various improvements, alterations, renovations, repairs, upgrades, and additions at Barton Elementary School, Cherry Hill High School East, Harte Elementary School, Johnson Elementary School, Kingston Elementary School, Knight Elementary School, Mann Elementary School, Rosa Middle School, Sharp Elementary School, Stockton Elementary School and Cherry Hill High School West, including acquisition and installation of fixtures, furniture, equipment and any site work; and (b) to appropriate $370,443,929, partially funded by $6,269,829 available from the Coronavirus Response and Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021-The Elementary and Secondary School Energy Relief Fund and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021- The Elementary and Secondary School Energy Relief Fund, $263,000 available from a New Jersey Schools Development Authority Emergent and Capital Maintenance Needs Grant, and the issuance of bonds in an amount not to exceed $363,911,100.

The final eligible costs for the projects approved by the New Jersey Commissioner of Education are $332,534,686 (consisting of $6,148,290 for Malberg Early Childhood Center, $19,178,513 for Beck Middle School, $35,425,040 for Carusi Middle School, $7,496,163 for Cooper Elementary School, $9,907,505 for Kilmer Elementary School, $6,556,357 for Lewis Alternative High School, $7,050,232 for Paine Elementary School, $9,649,813 for Woodcrest Elementary School, $10,582,799 for Barton Elementary School, $76,611,844 for Cherry Hill High School East, $9,221,696 for Harte Elementary School, $9,827,566 for Johnson Elementary School, $12,540,698 for Kingston Elementary School, $8,543,937 for Knight Elementary School, $8,847,673 for Mann Elementary School, $13,419,448 for Rosa Middle School, $9,284,636 for Sharp Elementary School, $8,269,497 for Stockton Elementary School, and $63,972,979 for Cherry Hill High School West). The project includes $6,526,399 (consisting of $0 for Malberg Early Childhood Center, $0 for Beck Middle School, $1,875,000 for Carusi Middle School, $0 for Cooper Elementary School, $0 for Kilmer Elementary School, $0 for Lewis Alternative High School, $0 for Paine Elementary School, $0 for Woodcrest Elementary School, $0 for Barton Elementary School, $4,593,055 for Cherry Hill High School East, $0 for Harte Elementary School, $0 for Johnson Elementary School, $0 for Kingston Elementary School, $0 for Knight Elementary School, $0 for Mann Elementary School, $29,744 for Rosa Middle School, $0 for Sharp Elementary School, $0 for Stockton Elementary School, and $28,600 for Cherry Hill High School West) for school facility construction elements in addition to the facilities efficiency standards developed by the Commissioner of Education or not otherwise eligible for State support pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:7G-5(g). The State debt service aid percentage will equal 40% of the annual debt service due with respect to the final eligible costs of the projects. The Board of Education is authorized to transfer funds among the projects approved at this special election.

Do you approve Bond Proposal Question?

All Cherry Hill Board of Education candidates who answered our Patch questionnaire for the November election are also listed on the Politics and Government page for the Cherry Hill Patch.