The answer is unofficially Yes by voters in Toms River to allow the Board of Education to use $147,148,269.00 in funding to undertake various renovations, alterations and improvements at several of the district school buildings, according to updating results being posted by the Ocean County Clerks Office.

There is a wide difference between what the Ocean County Clerk has on the ballot and what Toms River Schools said is in the referendum a day before the election.

What does it mean?

The total referendum is $165,000,000.00 and taxpayers in the Toms River Schools District voted yes to the $147,000,000.00 of that amount with $17,800,000.00 funded through the ESIP project.

$47,000,000.00 will come from the state with no additional burden to the taxpayers.

The remaining $100,000,000.00 is funded by the referendum.

To break it down even further, residents within the school district voted yes to allow the Board of Ed to use taxpayer funds to undertake various projects.

The yes vote will raise taxes for everyone within the sending district based on the assessed valuation of each town sending students to Toms River Schools.

So, taxpayers in the four towns that make up the district will see a rise in taxes.

Here is the language on the ballot that voters saw on Tuesday:

Toms River Regional Schools have been authorized to undertake various renovations, alterations, and improvements at Beachwood Elementary School, Cedar Grove Elementary School, Joseph A. Citta Elementary School, East Dover Elementary School, Hooper Avenue Elementary School, North Dover Elementary School, Pine Beach Elementary School, Silver Bay Elementary School, South Toms River Elementary School, Walnut Street Elementary School, Washington Street Elementary School, West Dover Elementary School, Intermediate East School, Intermediate North School, Intermediate South School, High School East, High School North, High School South, Administration Building, John Bennett Athletic Center, Vehicle Maintenance Compound, District Maintenance Compound and Central Registration Complex and including related technology, fixtures, furnishings, equipment, site work and related work, according to the Ocean County Clerks Office.

They're also authorized to appropriate $147,148,269 for such purposes and to issue bonds of the school district in the principal amount of $147,148,269.

The final eligible costs of the projects approved by the Commissioner of Education are $139,063,509:

  • $2,165,100 would be allocated to Beachwood Elementary School.
  • $4,096,045 would be allocated to Cedar Grove Elementary School.
  • $2,349,450 would be allocated to Joseph A. Citta Elementary School.
  • $3,675,625 would be allocated to East Dover Elementary School.
  • $4,649,950 would be allocated to Hooper Avenue Elementary School.
  • $4,298,373 would be allocated to North Dover Elementary School.
  • $4,521,000 would be allocated to Pine Beach Elementary School.
  • $6,658,275 would be allocated to Silver Bay Elementary School.
  • $3,451,225 would be allocated to South Toms River Elementary School.
  • $5,012,370 would be allocated to Walnut Street Elementary School.
  • $3,852,260 would be allocated to Washington Street Elementary School.
  • $3,572,040 would be allocated to West Dover Elementary School.
  • $13,451,900 would be allocated to Intermediate East School.
  • $11,376,200 would be allocated to Intermediate North School.
  • $6,367,650 would be allocated to Intermediate South School.
  • $14,206,663 would be allocated to High School East.
  • $32,385,080 would be allocated to High School North.
  • $12,974,303 would be allocated to High School South.
  • $0 would be allocated to the Administration Building.
  • $0 would be allocated to the John Bennett Athletic Center.
  • $0 would be allocated to the Vehicle Maintenance Compound.
  • $0 would be allocated to the District Maintenance Compound.
  • $0 would be allocated to the Central Registration Complex.

The proposed improvements include $8,084,760:

  • $476,000 would be allocated to High School East.
  • $350,000 would be allocated to High School North.
  • $700,000 would be allocated to High School South.
  • $1,281,850 would be allocated to the Administration Building.
  • $2,282,770 would be allocated to the John Bennett Athletic Center.
  • $876,500 would be allocated to the Vehicle Maintenance Compound.
  • $1,736,760 would be allocated to the District Maintenance Compound.
  • $380,880 would be allocated to the Central Registration Complex.

School construction elements in addition to the facilities efficiency standards have been developed by the Commissioner of Education or they would otherwise not be 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.

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