WOOLWICH TWP. – A scaled back version of last March’s failed athletic sports complex referendum will be on the Nov. 8 ballot.
According to Kingsway’s presentation on the referendum, everything in the March 8 referendum has been eliminated with the exception of the 8-Lane 400m rubber track and renovations to field events. The current bus garage project is a modified plan when compared to the March referendum.
The new referendum, valued at $3.92 million, will include the new eight-lane surface track, field event upgrades, visitor side bleacher and stadium lights relocation due to the expanded track surface, replacement of a natural grass field, new fencing around the football and varsity baseball stadiums, new 1-story storage building and the renovation of an existing storage facility into transportation office and additional mechanics bays.
Approval of the referendum will mean an increase in taxes of $29.91 per year the average assessed home of $269,454 in East Greenwich Township; an increase of $40.22 a year for the average assessed home of $322,058 in South Harrison Township.; an increase of $23.27 per year for the average assessed home of $171,527 in Swedesboro; and an increase of $35.81 for the average assessed home of $287,361 in Woolwich Township.
The project will be financed by a 15 year bond.
“We surveyed our school community to gain a better understanding of what they would be willing to support. We have a number of issues we must address as a result of student population growth and refined the current proposals so that we can best meet the district’s needs while taking into consideration our community’s feedback,” said Dr. James J. Lavender, Superintendent. “The original referendum included a number of requests and cost three times more than the current proposal. I believe the community will see that we listened and responded accordingly.”
–by Karen E. Viereck, Editor/Publisher
