Saddle Brook, N.J. – The Saddle Brook School District reminds residents to vote on Tuesday, Dec. 13, in a bond referendum that, if approved, would fund new space to expand programs and special services, safety and security upgrades, and infrastructure improvements – all of which will allow students to thrive academically and athletically.

“With new state mandates and education standards, the way students are educated has changed,” said Superintendent Toni Violetti. “We worked with the Board of Education to develop a Strategic Plan to help guide the district’s future, and an essential part of the plan is to upgrade existing spaces and create new spaces to meet the needs of students.”

From education to athletics to infrastructure, the bond referendum provides a financially responsible path to address the district’s critical need for more space. The three ballot questions touch nearly every facet of the school district, including:
• New middle school addition to serve grades 6-8 with expanded programs and support services.
• Athletic turf fields and lights to allow students to compete with neighboring towns on a safer, more consistent playing surface.
• Safety and security upgrades at multiple schools, as well as infrastructure upgrades to roofs, lights, floors, ceilings, windows, doors, and more.
• New Media Center at Helen I. Smith Elementary School.
• Classroom renovations at Washington Elementary School to expand the pre-kindergarten program, thus eliminating the pre-k waitlist and generating tuition revenue for the district.
• Interior restoration, including ADA-compliant elevator, at Coolidge School to create a professional learning lab and offices.

To see a full breakdown of the proposed projects and the costs, visit sbpsnj.org/referendum.

The proposal leverages state aid to help offset project costs and lower the tax impact for residents. If passed, approximately $5 million of the $58.6 million project costs would be covered by state aid that is only available through approval of the bond referendum.

The owner of an average assessed home in Saddle Brook ($407,800) can expect to pay a net tax impact of $281.85 per year if all three questions pass. The “net tax impact” is the total of the debt the community is paying off from a previous bond referendum combined with the new debt. To view the estimated net tax impact for your home, visit sbpsnj.org/referendum.

Saddle Brook School District encourages all registered voters to make their voices heard. Regular polling places will be open for in-person voting on Tuesday, Dec. 13, from 1 – 8 p.m.

Residents who received a Vote By Mail ballot must have their ballots postmarked by Dec. 13.