Students are the priority in the Hopewell Valley Regional School District. We strive for them to learn in ideal environments. To achieve this, we diligently review the district’s needs to support our mission of academic excellence.
The Nov. 4 bond referendum focuses on solving our schools’ pressing infrastructure and space needs. The proposal incorporates community feedback following last year’s failed referendum.
We removed a proposed turf field, added more critical HVAC projects that qualify for the maximum amount of state aid, and separated the plan into two questions.
TWO QUESTIONS
Question 1 addresses the basics of providing functional, safe, and comfortable schools. We would replace leaky roofs, inefficient heating/cooling systems, and interior and exterior doors that do not align with current safety standards. The building systems included in the proposal are nearing the end of their useful life. The roofing areas that would be replaced have warranty expiration years of 2026 or earlier.
Question 2 targets the space shortage at the elementary level.
The modular trailers at Bear Tavern Elementary School and Toll Gate Grammar School are no new sight for some of our community members, who recall attending class in the same trailers decades ago.
Intended as a short-term fix, the trailers are now aging and cramped, but the schools have no other way to manage overflow from the buildings. The search for more space will continue as we welcome more students from new housing developments.
Question 1 can pass independently. Question 2 can only pass if Question 1 is also approved.
THE STRATEGY
With voter approval, HVRSD would secure $20.2 million in state aid toward $84.2 million in project costs. This is an opportunity to reduce the local share for improvements that cannot be accommodated within the annual budget – and cannot be delayed any longer.
In fact, some of the infrastructure projects in this proposal were considered for the successful 2016 referendum but were eventually removed to keep costs down. These issues increasingly persisted after voters rejected the 2024 referendum. We are now at the point where we cannot keep pace with the number of emergency repairs. Replacements are needed.
UPFRONT FUNDING FOR MAJOR PROJECTS
Another development since last year’s referendum is Hopewell Township’s commitment to contribute $16.1 million from PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) funding toward the expansion of Bear Tavern. Some community members have asked why the referendum – specifically Question 2 – is needed in light of the PILOT funding pledge. Reasons include:
- The immediacy and established structure of referendum funding. The PILOT funds are inaccessible during ongoing litigation. When the money is available, it would be used to pay down the debt service for Bear Tavern.
- The opportunity to receive state aid toward building expansions, in addition to the PILOT funding, once it is available.
- The importance of expanding BOTH Toll Gate and Bear Tavern schools. PILOT funding would be applied only toward the debt service for the Bear Tavern project.
Our students and our entire community deserve schools they have confidence in and take pride in.
The estimated annual tax impact for Question 1 is $248 for Hopewell Borough, $284 for Hopewell Township, and $294 for Pennington Borough.
The estimated annual tax impact for Question 2 is $164 for Hopewell Borough, $188 for Hopewell Township, and $194 for Pennington Borough.
Tax impact is based on the average assessed property value of $408,445 in Hopewell Borough, $477,718 in Hopewell Township, and $488,135 in Pennington Borough.
Learn more at hvrsd.org/vote.
