FAQs

A bond is a means of borrowing funds, and a referendum is a public vote on an issue. A bond referendum is a ballot measure that seeks voter approval to borrow money for large-scale improvements through the sale of bonds.    

New Jersey school districts pursue this financial path for these main reasons:    

• Obtain state aid that is not available through the annual budget. For BRSD, state aid would reduce taxpayers’ share of the project costs by 34%.   

• Complete projects in a few years with upfront funding.   

The foundations and structures of our schools are solid, but the infrastructure – including roofs, HVAC, windows, doors, electrical systems, and fire alarm and public address systems – is failing, requiring frequent, costly repairs and impacting the quality or our learning environments.  

The district has proactively addressed the issues that it can through the operating budget, capital reserves and grants, but the scope of necessary work – an estimated $86.1 million in improvements – goes well beyond the capacity of our budget.  

Through a successful bond referendum, BRSD would receive $29.3 million in state aid – 34% of the total cost – and receive upfront funding to quickly address these much-needed improvements. 

It is not feasible to address these issues in the annual budget, which has a 2% annual tax levy cap. The district could attempt to fit a fraction of the projects into the budget at a time over many years, but that would be far less efficient means of replacing severely outdated infrastructure. Plus, without a referendum, the district would not have the opportunity to benefit from $29.3 million in state aid, and the full burden of the costs would fall squarely on taxpayers. Addressing building projects through a referendum also preserves more of the annual budget for educational needs.

The district is committed to sharing clear and comprehensive information about the referendum with all community members. This website is one way the district plans to share information leading up to the vote.      

The district will also communicate through public information sessions and school tours, the local news media, social media, mailings and flyers.    

We encourage the community to attend one of our information sessions: 
 

• Wednesday, Sept. 30, Clara Barton School, 100 Crosswicks St. – Presentation, followed by building tour  

• Monday, Oct. 12, Bordentown Regional High School, 318 Ward Ave. –  Forum with project architects and financial advisors, plus Q&A 

• Thursday, Oct. 29, Bordentown Regional Middle School, 50 Dunns Mill Road – Presentation, followed by building tour 

Community members can also direct referendum-related questions to vote2026@bordentown.k12.nj.us. All questions will be answered as soon as possible. 

All schools in the Bordentown Regional School District would benefit from proposed renovations that would help improve learning conditions, access and equity for students with disabilities, and safety and security districtwide.  

In identifying priorities to include in the bond referendum, the district focused on projects that address the most pressing needs and qualify for the maximum amount of state aid to offset the cost to taxpayers. Projects include: 

• Replace out-of-warranty roofs that are leaking into learning spaces and other rooms at all schools.  

• Replace heating, air conditioning and temperature control systems at all schools.  

• Replace interior lighting fixtures.  

• Replace auditorium sound system in the high school.  

• Replace windows and caulking in older buildings. 

• Replace crumbling sidewalks and cracked asphalt at all schools.  

• Replace interior doors and hardware.  

• Replace exterior lighting fixtures.  

• Upgrade various electrical systems at all schools.  

• Replace public address and clock systems.  

• Replace fire alarm systems.  

• Replace/install emergency power generators. 

There are some variations in projects from school to school. Please see the Projects by School section of the Projects page for additional details. 

The work would be planned around school schedules to minimize disruptions to learning, with the bulk of the work taking place during the summer months.

If the referendum passes, improvements at our schools will begin in summer 2027 at the earliest. It is estimated that all improvements will be completed prior to the start of the 2028-29 school year.  

The district has used its existing resources to maintain buildings while also upholding its responsibility to taxpayers by:   

• Refinancing debt from the construction of the high school to save taxpayers $677,409, including a small tax reduction earlier this year. 

• Using capital reserve funds, the district invested more than $8 million in facility projects, including security upgrades and other infrastructure improvements; a state grant funded HVAC upgrades, including two boilers and a rooftop air conditioning unit at the high school. 

• Stabilizing the district budget despite reduced state funding. 

If costs come in under budget, state law requires that the district pass the savings along to the taxpayer in the form of lower taxes. The district cannot use bond funding to pay for any projects other than the ones approved by voters. 

According to law, the Board is not permitted to spend one cent more on the projects without obtaining additional voter approval. With the help of financial consultants and architects who specialize in school projects, the district has thoroughly researched the proposed projects, estimated their associated costs, and included a contingency amount in the estimated total. If actual costs exceed what voters approved, the projects will have to be adjusted to fit within the budget.     

The school district serves three communities: Bordentown City, Bordentown Township, and Fieldsboro. If the referendum passes, each community will have a different estimated tax impact based on the average assessed value of a home in that municipality.   

Please note that assessed value is different from market value. Assessed value is determined by the county for tax purposes, and market value is how much a homeowner could expect to receive by selling their house.   

The chart below provides the estimated monthly tax impact for homeowners based on the average assessed value of a home in each community. The term of the bond is 20 years.  

If you are uncertain of the assessed value of your home, you can find it through the Burlington County Assessment Records Search by selecting your community below and entering your street address and the homeowner's name: 

Bordentown City 

Bordentown Township 

Fieldsboro

To get your individual estimated monthly tax impact, enter the municipality you live in, the address of your home and the name of the owner into the Burlington County Assessment Records Search.  

Once you have the assessed value of your home, divide the assessed value by 100, then multiply that number by the following value, depending on the municipality in which you live: 

Bordentown City multiply by 0.220 

Bordentown Township multiply by 0.242 

Fieldsboro multiply by 0.202  

The earliest taxpayers could expect to see the cost of the improvements reflected in their tax bill is in the third quarter of 2027 (August 1, 2027).  

Eligible seniors can apply for three property tax relief programs – ANCHOR, Senior Tax Freeze and Stay NJ -- by filling out a single form. The Senior Freeze program reimburses homeowners for the amount of a property tax increase related to a referendum or for any other reason.  

Eligibility criteria for 2026 vary for each program.   

For more information or questions about filling out the form, call the Property Tax Relief Customer Service Center at 1-888-238-1233. 

The bond referendum will be held during the general election on Tuesday, November 3.

All registered voters who are residents of Bordentown City, Bordentown Township or Fieldsboro can vote in the bond referendum. 

There are three ways to vote in the Nov. 3 bond referendum: 

• Early In-Person Voting: The week before Election Day (Oct. 24 through Nov. 1), registered voters can cast their ballots at any one of Burlington County's 10 early voting locations. No appointment necessary (see times and locations).   

• At the Polls: Residents may vote at their assigned polling locations on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Find your polling location. 

• Vote By Mail: Mail or drop off your ballot by the day of the election. All mailed ballots must be postmarked by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3. You may also deposit your Vote By Mail ballot in an official Burlington County secure ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3. A drop box is located outside the Bordentown Township Senior Community Center at 3 Municipal Drive. Ballots may also be delivered in person to the Burlington County Board of Elections, 301 Harper Drive in Moorestown, by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3. 

If you arrive at the polls and are told that you cannot vote for any reason, ask for a provisional ballot. This means your ballot will be considered after your eligibility is determined. 

You can check your voter registration status on the New Jersey Voter Search page. Just enter your name and date of birth in the required fields.