Vote From 4-8 P.M. Today On Holmdel Schools Referendum

HOLMDEL, NJ — Today's the big day in Holmdel! Here's a reminder that Tuesday, Sept. 26 is the day voting will take place for the special Holmdel school referendum.

Holmdel residents will be asked whether they want to approve a $40.3 million spending plan on the Holmdel public schools. It's an initiative greatly pushed by schools superintendent Dr. Robert McGarry, who says the improvements are necessary to help modernize Holmdel schools, improve facilities and allow Holmdel to offer more, such as full-day kindergarten and a robotics room. Many of the projects are building- and infrastructure-related. For example, the gyms at Village and Indian Hill will get new wooden floors. The turf will be replaced at Roggy Field. A new first-ever Robotics Room will be added at Satz. But that is only the tip of the iceberg. Other more costly projects include putting a new roof on Holmdel High School and renovating locker rooms at Satz. All the planned improvements are outlined by the district on this website: https://sites.google.com/holmd...

However, the $40.3 million spending plan will also increase Holmdel property taxes. The estimated tax impact, if voters approve the referendum, will be a $159 net increase on the average assessed home (a home assessed at $657,288 in Holmdel). The Holmdel school district released these anticipated property tax increases if the referendum, nicknamed the Holmdel 2020 Initiative, goes through:

$300,000: $72 yearly property tax increase
$400,000: $97 yearly property tax increase
$500,000: $121 yearly property tax increase
$600,000: $159 yearly property tax increase
$700,000: $169 yearly property tax increase

But those are projected tax increases and are dependent on how much funding Holmdel gets from the state. Vote: Vote at your regular polling place. Polls will be open from 4-8 p.m. on Tuesday, September 26. It's not just Holmdel: Tinton Falls is asking its residents to approve a $32.5 million bond for school improvements in a special election today; Marlboro Township is voting on a $25 million plan and Upper Freehold is asking voters to approve a $9.9 million school improvement bond. All those referendum votes are taking place today, Sept. 26.

Ongoing Patch reporting on this topic:

Holmdel 2020 Initiative: How Much Will Your Property Taxes Go Up?