Galloway Schools Referendum to Have Minimal Impact on Residents' Taxes

The tax impact from the Dec. 13 set forth by the Galloway Township Board of Education will be minimal, the board said at its meeting Monday night, Nov. 21, before approving the exact wording as it will appear on the ballot.

According to Business Administrator Vickie Tomasco, those who own a home valued at $100,000 will see their taxes go up by $14 a year, while those paying $200,000 a year will see their taxes go up by $28 a year.

“That comes out to about $2.50 a month,” Board Member John Knorr said. “Our children are worth more than $2.50 a month.”

“If there are no renovations, it will actually end up costing the taxpayers more in the long run,” board member Rosemary Hollway said.

Board President Ernest Huggard agreed with Hollway’s sentiments, and Knorr stated this work “needs to be done.” He also stated one bond was paid off last year, while the other will be paid off next year.

“There will be an increase for a year, but it will level off,” Knorr said.

The referendum was approved verbatim, unanimously, on Monday night. The wording reads as follows:

Section 1.           

A special election of the legal voters of The Board of Education of the Township of Galloway, in the County of Atlantic, New Jersey ("Board" when referring to the governing body and "School District" when referring to the legal entity governed by the Board) shall be held on Tuesday, December 13, 2011.

Section 2.           

The following proposal ("Proposal") is hereby approved and shall be submitted to the legal voters of the School District at a special election to be held on Tuesday, December 13, 2011:

PROPOSAL

The Board of Education of the Township of Galloway, in the County of Atlantic, New Jersey ("School District"), is authorized to:  (a) undertake for lawful school purposes a capital improvement program consisting of: (i) repair and/or replacement of the roofing at Roland Rogers Elementary School, Smithville Elementary School and Arthur Rann Elementary School; (ii) fire alarm replacement at Reeds Road Elementary School, Roland Rogers Elementary School and Smithville Elementary School; (iii) renovation and/or repair of the storm water system and reconstruction of the parking lot at Arthur Rann Elementary School; and (iv) the acquisition of all equipment and the completion of all work necessary for or related thereto; (b) expend for all the foregoing an amount not to exceed $6,982,500 (of which $0 represents eligible costs, as determined by the Commissioner of Education); and (c) issue bonds of the School District for said project in an amount not to exceed $6,982,500.  This school facilities project includes $6,982,500 for school facility construction elements that are not eligible for State support.

Notwithstanding anything in this Resolution to the contrary, the Superintendent of Schools and Business Administrator/Board Secretary, upon the advice of Bond Counsel, are each hereby authorized to approve any changes to the Proposal as may be advisable or as may be required pursuant to provisions of the New Jersey Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act or other applicable law; provided, however, that no such changes shall result in the total appropriation for the project set forth in the Proposal to exceed $6,982,500.

Section 3.           

The Board hereby acknowledges and confirms that, in accordance with Sections 16 and 17 of the School Bond Law, N.J.S.A. 18A:24-16 and 18A:24-17, a supplemental debt statement has been prepared as of the date of this resolution by the Chief Financial Officer of the Township of Galloway, being the sole municipality comprised within the School District, giving effect to the proposed authorization of bonds of the School District in the amount stated in the Proposal set forth above and that the supplemental debt statement has been filed in the office of the Clerk of the Township of Galloway and in the office of the Board Secretary prior to the adoption of this resolution.  The Board hereby directs the Board Secretary to have the supplemental debt statement filed in the office of the Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs prior to the date of the special election.

Section 4.           

The Business Administrator/Board Secretary is hereby authorized and directed to immediately forward a certified copy of this resolution and the Proposal approved herein to the Atlantic County Clerk, the Clerk of the Township of Galloway and to the Atlantic County Board of Elections.

Section 5.           

All actions heretofore taken and documents prepared or executed by or on behalf of the School District by the members of the Board, Superintendent of Schools, Business Administrator/Board Secretary or by the School District's professional advisors, in connection with the holding of the special election or the consideration of the Proposal at said special election, are hereby ratified, confirmed, approved and adopted.

Section 6.           

The President of the Board, Vice President of the Board, Superintendent of Schools and Business Administrator/Board Secretary are each hereby authorized to determine all matters and execute all documents and instruments in connection with the holding of the special election or the consideration of the Proposal at said special election, and the signatures of the President of the Board, Vice President of the Board, Superintendent of Schools or Business Administrator/Board Secretary on such documents or instruments shall be conclusive as to such determinations.

Section 7.           

All other resolutions, or parts thereof, inconsistent herewith are hereby rescinded and repealed to the extent of any such inconsistency.

Section 8.           

This Resolution shall take effect immediately on adoption this 21st day of November, 2011.