$23.9M Point Beach Schools Package Rejected: Unofficial Results

Updated, 9:45 p.m.

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, NJ — Voters in the Point Pleasant Beach School District have rejected the district's request for a proposed $23.9 million package of facilities projects.

There were 987 ballots cast out of 4,490 registered voters in Point Pleasant Beach and Mantoloking — a 21.98 percent voter turnout — with 330 yes votes and 652 no votes, according to the unofficial tallies posted by the Ocean County Clerk's office. The results available Tuesday night remain unofficial until certified by the Ocean County Clerk's office later in December.

The funding for the proposed $23.9 million package included $2 million from the Point Pleasant Beach school district's capital reserves and bonds for $21.9 million would have been issued.

With the defeat of the package, the school board will have to decide how to move forward.

With the defeat of the proposed package, the district will lose $2 million in state aid that would have offset debt service, district officials said in September.

The district also will lose $1 million that was offered by resident Robert Sickel, owner of the Pine Belt auto franchise, which would also have been used to reduce the debt service.

At school board meetings in February and September, people who opposed the package of projects objected in particular to a proposal for a fieldhouse and to converting the football field to turf.

Superintendent William Smith said in September that repairs that are part of the package will need to move forward, such as repairs to the building envelope at G. Harold Antrim Elementary School, where there are issues with the masonry and bricks, repairs needed to outside stairs and more.

The future of other items that need to be addressed, such as the badly deteriorating tennis courts at the high school, is uncertain.