Mahwah School Bond Referendum Results: See Vote Tally On $138M Plan

MAHWAH, NJ — Mahwah residents largely said "Yes and no" on Tuesday night to a plan to bond for $138 million in school upgrades.

The bonds are meant to help fund improvements at all six public schools in town.

The voters had to approve two separate amounts to fund a slew of projects (explained below). The district will also get some state funding.

A district spokesperson said Tuesday night that according to unofficial results — since mail-in ballots are still coming in — voters approved Question 1, while Question 2 did not receive majority support.

The tally as of Tuesday night for Question 1 included 1,986 votes in favor and 1,826 opposed, the spokesperson said. Mail-in ballots could change the results.

Question 2 saw 1,534 votes in favor and 2,211 opposed.

The totals remain unofficial until all mail-in and provisional ballots are tallied.

Approval of Question 1 authorizes $75.8 million in funding for districtwide repairs. The approval also secures a portion of state aid.

In order to pass question 2, question 1 needed to pass.

“On behalf of our district administration and the Board of Education, I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to community members for taking the time to learn about this proposal and voting,” said Superintendent Dr. Michael DeTuro. “We are grateful to the community for supporting the essential infrastructure needs outlined in Question 1. While Question 2 did not pass, the approval of the first question allows us to address the most urgent repairs, including roofs and HVAC systems, that protect our buildings and provide a comfortable learning environment for our students.”

Once the district receives confirmation that the results are official, they can move forward with the infrastructure repairs, such as replacing the 20-year-old HVAC systems and aging roofs. Professional consultants will begin by selling the bonds at the most favorable rates. Architects and engineers will prepare project specifications for the bidding process. Contracts will be awarded to the lowest qualified bidders, per state regulations. The district will keep the community updated on this process.

The district administration and Board of Education will continue to evaluate community feedback regarding the gymnasium and auditorium projects and more proposed in Question 2, a spokesperson said.

The Bergen County Clerk's Office posted preliminary numbers Tuesday night. Since paper ballots could have been mailed through election day, the final vote totals will be reported later.

Details Of The Projects

Question 1 was for $75.8 million in projects, with $25.1 million in state aid available. It focused on infrastructure improvements and upgrades to maintain school operations and efficiency. The projects included updating HVAC, roofing, and windows, many of which are over 20 years old. It also proposed creating a designated space for the 18- to 21-year-old special needs program.

Question 2 was for $62.6 million in projects, with $3 million in state aid available if approved. It addressed facility enhancements to create consistency among elementary schools and improve the high school experience. This included gymnasiums at Betsy Ross and George Washington elementary schools. The question also proposed adding a second gymnasium and renovating the auditorium at the high school, along with upgrading grass fields to turf with lighting.

Tax Impact

The estimated tax impact for a home assessed at the Mahwah average of $481,238 would be about $26 per month for Question 1, officials said.

For Question 2, an additional $31 per month would be added.

The town held more than 20 information sessions and forums to educate voters about the referendum and answer their questions, officials said. A recording of a virtual forum is here: www.mahwah.k12.nj.us/future.

Visit www.mahwah.k12.nj.us/future to learn more.