Cape May County has posted the official results of the special elections Sept. 17 in Middle and Dennis townships in which voters resoundingly turned down requests by the school districts for additional funding for their budgets.
The final vote in Dennis was 445 in favor of the referendum measure approving additional funding and 1,820 votes against, meaning just over 80% of voters disapproved. The final tally was 80 votes more than what was reported unofficially following election day.
In Middle Township, the vote was 1,208 yes and 2,334 no, meaning nearly 66% of voters were against the referendum measure. The final count was up 114 votes over the unofficial tally just after the election.
In Dennis Township, the school board called for adding $2.2 million to the property tax levy. The school district had sought to replace some of its lost state aid in order to lower class size and maintain both academic and extracurricular programs.
Middle’s school district sought approval of a $26.5 million bond issue. The district wanted to expand pre-K programs, relocate second grade, make capital improvements to two school buildings and add synthetic turf to Memorial Field.
Contact the reporter, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.
