To the Editor:
Dr. Rosetta Treece’s recent MercerMe letter in support of Question 2 tells only part of the story. The district’s own records, including statements from its Virtual Town Hall, reveal something different.
1. Enrollment has stayed level.
The February 2023 SLAM study projects Bear Tavern at 592 students in the high case and 544 in the medium case for 2032-33. The Department of Education lists Bear Tavern’s functional capacity at 506 students and its target capacity at 446. The medium projection is about 98 above the target. Across all four elementary schools, DOE capacity totals 1,940 and the medium projection is 1,724, leaving roughly 216 open seats district wide. The 25 percent “increase” cited publicly came from one redistricting year, not sustained growth.New affordable- and market-rate housing was already counted in the 2022 SLAM projections. Even with those homes occupied, more than 200 seats remain available through 2033.
2. Trailers are not proof of overcrowding.
Under state rules, modular classrooms count as instructional space. The Department of Education authorizes new construction only when a district has students without classrooms. Hopewell Valley has none. Replacing trailers with a new wing is a choice, not a necessity.
3. The $16.1 million in PILOT funds are real but unavailable.
During the Town Hall, officials confirmed Hopewell Township’s pledge of $16.1 million for Bear Tavern and that the funds are tied up in litigation. Borrowing now means taxpayers pay the full cost first and wait for reimbursement later. Responsible planning would wait until the money is in hand.
4. Bonds do raise taxes.
The district’s bond-counsel agreement sets a base fee plus a charge for each thousand dollars borrowed. The bonds run twenty years and overlap the 2016 issue, stacking debt service through 2046. State aid covers only 40 to 50 percent of eligible costs; the rest lands on local tax bills beginning 2026. Calling that neutral is inaccurate.
5. Roofs, HVAC, and verification.
Administrators said roofs with warranties expiring in 2026 or earlier would be replaced. They also said warranties cover only defects, not wear or age. An expiring warranty does not prove a roof is failing. The public deserves independent condition reports showing which sections leak now, which were recently replaced, and which still have service life. The same applies to HVAC. Some systems fail often, others work well. Publishing a phased list by building and wing would let the district target replacements and avoid borrowing for items that can wait.
6. Basic upkeep has been deferred.
Residents have seen rusted window frames and door hardware at Bear Tavern that appear original to the 1960s. Even district officials admitted many classroom doors date back fifty years. Why were those doors never replaced? Why were metal frames allowed to rust through? These are signs of long-term neglect, not sudden failure. When maintenance is deferred for decades, the costs pile up and are then presented as an emergency. Taxpayers should not be asked to finance decades of postponed upkeep.
7. Shared sacrifice and transparency.
Families are managing record grocery prices, higher health-care costs, and rising property taxes. Small businesses have cut staff and delayed improvements to stay open. The district has not shown the same restraint. Before asking residents for new debt, it should reduce non-instructional and redundant administrative positions, direct savings to maintenance, and show that every project is independently verified. Homeowners would never replace a roof or boiler based on someone’s word; they would get a certified inspection. Taxpayers deserve the same certainty.
8. Conflicts of interest.
The consultants and bond counsel guiding this referendum are paid according to how large the bond is. That fee structure rewards scale, not savings. Full disclosure of all professional compensation should be public before any vote.
The bottom line:
Enrollment is steady, future housing is already counted, and the Township’s $16.1 million commitment remains pending. Roof and HVAC projects require independent verification and clear phasing. Deferred maintenance and administrative bloat should be addressed before new borrowing.
The responsible vote on Question 2 is No.
Sincerely,
Daniel Opdyke
Hopewell Township Resident
