What is the referendum about?

The referendum concerns the final phase of the Mountain View Elementary School roof replacement project. The remaining portion of the roof requires replacement because of documented deterioration and ongoing water infiltration.

Is this a new roof project?

No. This is the final phase of a multi-year roof replacement project at Mountain View. Previous phases were completed during the summers of 2024 and 2025. The proposed project would replace the remaining section.

Why does the remaining roof need to be replaced now?

The remaining 34,785 square feet of roofing over the school’s 1968 wing (Sections F through K) consist of a low-slope spray polyurethane foam (SPF) roofing system that has reached the end of its useful life. Professional evaluations have documented trapped moisture, surface deterioration, openings in the roofing system, and drainage conditions that allow water to remain on portions of the roof.

Key documented conditions

• Moisture saturation: Professional evaluations found trapped water within the roof system. In some areas, applying pressure to the roof causes water to discharge, indicating saturated insulation.
• Foam deterioration: The SPF surface has cracks, open holes, discoloration, and areas of ponding water that can allow additional water intrusion.
• Warranty status: The remaining 34,785 square feet are no longer covered by a roofing warranty, leaving the district responsible for ongoing maintenance and repair costs.

Risk of delay

The existing system does not consistently provide a positive slope toward the drains, allowing water to remain on the roof until it enters a crack or opening. Delaying replacement could lead to further damage to classrooms and the underlying metal roof deck, increasing the scope and cost of future repairs. The district’s technical plan is intended to provide a permanent replacement during summer 2027.

How much of the Mountain View roof still needs to be replaced?

Approximately 34,785 square feet of roof area remain to be replaced. The approximately 61,795 square feet completed during the first two phases are under the newer roofing system and warranty.

Why wasn’t the entire roof replaced at one time?

The work has been divided into three planned phases as part of the district’s multi-year capital planning. Phase 1 in 2024 and Phase 2 in 2025 modernized a combined 61,795 square feet of roofing. Phase 3 would replace the remaining 34,785 square feet and complete the roof program so that all roof areas at Mountain View are covered by newer roofing systems and applicable warranties.

What work is included in this project?

Phase 3 includes the following major technical steps:

• Complete removal: Remove the existing deteriorated spray polyurethane foam roofing system down to the original metal roof deck.
• Deck and masonry restoration: Inspect the metal deck for corrosion and restore affected areas as necessary. The work also includes repointing and sealing adjacent brick walls to help prevent water from entering through the masonry.
• New roofing system: Install a properly designed mineral modified bituminous roofing system to improve drainage, durability, and long-term protection.

When would the work take place?

If the referendum is approved and the project proceeds as planned, construction is anticipated for summer 2027. Scheduling the work during the summer is intended to avoid disruption to students and daily school operations. Completion of Phase 3 would conclude the three-phase roof replacement program and place the remaining roof area under a new roofing system and applicable warranty.

What is the total estimated cost of the project?

The total project cost is $2,317,496, or approximately $2.3 million.

What is included in the approximately $2.3 million project cost?

The current project budget includes approximately $1.90 million for roof replacement, $227,000 for professional and other project-related costs, and $190,000 for contingency. These components total approximately $2.3 million.

How much State funding is available for the project?

The New Jersey Department of Education has approved approximately $787,949 in projected State Debt Service Aid, representing approximately 34% of the eligible project cost.

How much would the district fund locally if the referendum is approved?

The district’s local project share would be approximately $1,529,547, with approximately $787,949 projected to be supported through State Debt Service Aid.

Where will the district’s local share come from?

The local share is already available in the district’s capital reserve account. Capital reserve is a restricted district fund established for qualifying capital and facilities projects. It is not the same as the district’s general operating budget.

If the district already has money available, why is a referendum necessary?

The referendum is not being held because the district needs to raise additional local tax revenue for its local share. For this project, voter authorization through the referendum and debt-service process is the mechanism that provides access to approximately $788,000 in projected State Debt Service Aid. If the district funds the entire project directly as a locally supported capital project, that State Debt Service Aid would not be available through this process.

Why can’t the district simply use capital reserve and avoid a referendum?

The district can fund the project locally. However, doing so would mean that the district would be responsible for the full approximately $2.3 million project cost rather than receiving approximately $788,000 in projected State support through the Debt Service Aid process.

Is the State’s approximately $788,000 contribution a loan?

No. State Debt Service Aid is State financial support for eligible school facilities project costs. The projected State contribution is not repaid by the district.

Will this referendum cause an additional increase in local property taxes?

No. Under the district’s current financial plan, no increase in the local tax levy is planned to fund the Mountain View roof project. The district already has capital reserve funds available for its anticipated local share, and the current plan also anticipates addressing the temporary financing cost without an additional local tax levy attributable to this project.

If the district has the money, why does it have to borrow temporarily?

The temporary borrowing is not necessary because the district lacks funds. It is part of the financing structure used to access State Debt Service Aid. Under the current plan, the district would issue a temporary note before the end of 2026 and keep it outstanding beyond the close of the fiscal year so that the associated debt service qualifies for State aid.

How long is the temporary borrowing expected to remain outstanding?

The current planning assumption is approximately seven months, from approximately December 2026 through July 2027. The actual timing will depend on when the notes are issued and retired.

Will the district pay interest on the temporary note?

Yes. Temporary borrowing carries interest. Based on the current planning assumption of an approximately 3.5% interest rate, gross interest is estimated at approximately $47,000. Of that amount, approximately $16,000 is projected to be supported through State Debt Service Aid, leaving an estimated net local interest cost of approximately $31,000—or roughly $30,000. The actual interest rate and final cost will not be known until the notes are sold and will depend on market conditions and the length of time the note remains outstanding.

Does the State also contribute toward the interest cost?

Yes. Under the current financing assumptions, State Debt Service Aid is expected to apply to eligible interest as well as principal. The current model estimates that approximately $16,000 of the projected interest would be State-supported, leaving an estimated local interest cost of approximately $31,000, or roughly $30,000. These figures are estimates and will change if market interest rates or the borrowing period differ from current assumptions.

Why incur a local interest cost to use the referendum process?

The temporary borrowing is the mechanism that provides access to approximately $788,000 in projected State Debt Service Aid. Based on current estimates, the district’s net local interest cost associated with that financing would be roughly $30,000. The actual amount will be determined when the temporary notes are sold.

What happens if the referendum is approved?

If the referendum is approved, the district would be authorized to proceed through the Debt Service Aid financing process. Based on current project approvals, approximately $1.53 million of the project would be funded locally from existing capital reserve funds, and approximately $788,000 would be projected to be supported through State Debt Service Aid.

What happens if the referendum is not approved?

The need for the roof replacement does not disappear. However, the project would not receive the approximately $788,000 in projected State Debt Service Aid available through this referendum. Under the district’s current plan, the full approximately $2.3 million project cost would need to be funded locally; the district and Board of Education would retain responsibility for determining the project’s funding and timing.

Is anything other than the Mountain View roof included in this referendum?

No. The referendum is specifically for the final phase of the Mountain View Elementary School roof replacement project.

Is this a special election?

No. The referendum will appear on the ballot during the regularly scheduled General Election. The district is not conducting a separate special election for this question.

What will voters see on the ballot?

Voters will see the official school bond proposal for the Mountain View Elementary School roof replacement project.

[INSERT THE EXACT CERTIFIED BALLOT QUESTION VERBATIM HERE ONCE RECEIVED]

Where can residents learn more about the condition of the roof and the project?

The district’s referendum webpage will include the community presentation, photographs documenting existing roof conditions, the project photo report, financial information, this FAQ, the referendum video, the news article, and other relevant public documents as they become available.

What has the district agreed to do in exchange for the state aid? 

One important clarification is that the District is not borrowing approximately $788,000 from the State of New Jersey. State Debt Service Aid is financial support provided by the State toward eligible school-facilities debt; it is not a loan that the District is required to repay. For the Mountain View project, the New Jersey Department of Education has approved $787,949 in projected State Debt Service Aid.  The temporary borrowing associated with this project would be issued by the District as part of the financing structure required to access Debt Service Aid. The District has not agreed to provide the State with anything in exchange for the aid beyond complying with the requirements that apply to school-facilities projects receiving State support.  Those requirements include State approval of the project and its eligible costs, voter authorization through the referendum process, use of the financing for the approved project, and compliance with applicable State construction and school-finance requirements. NJDOE regulations specifically require the State to determine the project's final eligible costs before a district seeks voter approval for a project receiving Debt Service Aid.

What is the catch for the taxpayer? This is something that sounds too good to be true.

It really is as good as it sounds. There are no hidden terms or obligations to repay the State aid. The only “catch” is the cost of the temporary borrowing required as part of the referendum financing process to access State Debt Service Aid. The District’s estimated share of that interest is $31,228, which it can pay from capital reserve funds already available.

Why wasn’t this same referendum used for the previous phases of the roof replacement that have already been completed? Would doing so have saved money?

The roof sections replaced in Phases 1 and 2 were in worse condition than the section that remains, and the work could not wait for a referendum. The process requires an application and extensive documentation, and the Department of Education’s review alone can take up to six months. The remaining section gave the District enough time to complete that process and pursue State Debt Service Aid for the final phase.

Does the approximately $1.5 million local share include the $47,000 in interest on the debt?

The $1,529,547 local share does not include the estimated interest on the temporary financing. After estimated State aid on the interest, the District’s estimated interest cost is $31,228. Both the $1,529,547 local share and the estimated $31,228 in interest would be paid from capital reserve funds the District already has available.