To the Editor:
The Hopewell Valley Regional School District has mailed flyers promoting the November 4 bond referendum. The material presents images of “building needs” and “student space,” but it omits context voters deserve before approving a multi decade financial commitment.
The flyer separates Question 1 and Question 2, but together they represent an $84.2 million total cost. Question 1 is $58.4 million, with $19.9 million in state aid and an estimated annual tax impact of $248 to $294. Question 2 is $25.8 million, with $338,000 in state aid and an estimated annual tax impact of $164 to $194. For a homeowner at the stated average assessment, that totals about $472 per year. Over 20 years of bond payments, that equals close to $10,000 before interest, based on the district’s own numbers.
It is important for residents to understand that the flyer is not neutral information, it is marketing. The design highlights “$20.2M in State Aid” in large type to create the impression of a bargain. It pairs contrast imagery to produce an emotional reaction. It presents costs separately, so readers are less likely to add them together. It uses averages and small print to minimize the perceived tax impact. These are deliberate marketing techniques used to guide how people feel and how they vote. Recognizing these tactics allows voters to see past the packaging and focus on the real numbers.
If the argument is that this referendum is “for the children,” residents are entitled to ask why conditions were allowed to reach this point. Why are students still housed in aging trailers? Why was HVAC not upgraded in phases over time? Why were long term maintenance and phased planning not used to spread costs and limit large spikes in taxpayer burden?
The flyer advertises a virtual town hall on October 9 at 6 p.m. with “a panel of experts.” The flyer does not identify who those experts are or whether they are independent consultants, district paid consultants, or non-biased third-party professionals. Residents deserve transparency about who will be presenting and whose interests they represent.
This referendum is a substantial multi decade financial commitment. Voters deserve full numbers, plain language, clear disclosure, and accountability for past decisions, not marketing.
Dan Opdyke
Hopewell resident
