For residents of Middle Township and Dennis Township, Tuesday, Sept. 17 is a special election day, when they are being asked to approve or deny referendum measures proposed by each of the township school districts.
In Middle Township, residents are being asked to allow the district to bond for $26.5 million to create new pre-k classrooms, relocate second graders, upgrade unit ventilators in two schools and make improvements to district athletic facilities, including installing synthetic turf at Memorial Field.
The debt service for the new bonds would then become an addition to the school tax levy for at least the 20-year life of the bond repayment.
Residents can vote by mail or in person. Those opting for in-person voting Sept. 17 can go to their usual polling place, but only between the hours of 4 and 8 p.m.
In Dennis Township, residents are being asked to add $2.2 million to the current school tax levy. This increase would be permanently part of the annual tax levy and of the base for calculating caps for future-year increases in support of the school district operating budget.
The increase in funds would be used to add one teacher in each grade level, K-8, to reduce class size. The district says it would also be used for basic skills support following pandemic learning loss, replacement of technology, continuance of transportation services and support for co-curricular activities. Other uses of the funds include a security guard at each school as opposed to one for the two schools, and support for building maintenance.
Township residents can vote by mail or go to their usual polling location on Sept. 17 between the hours of 2 and 8 p.m. Note that poll hours in Dennis Township are different from those in Middle Township.
