Cinnaminson voters pass .7 million school bond referendum by a narrow margin of nine votes.
Voters in Cinnaminson, New Jersey, have narrowly approved a significant .7 million school bond referendum, according to unofficial election results. The decision was made during the special election held on September 15, where the final tally revealed a vote count of 1,744 in favor and 1,735 against the measure. The narrow margin underscores the community’s active engagement in local educational funding, as officials eagerly awaited the results while mail and provisional ballots were being verified.
The bond proposal, noted to be the largest in the history of South Jersey schools, is aimed at addressing critical infrastructure needs within the district. The initiative will involve various improvement projects, including classroom expansions, upgrades to heating and ventilation systems, and renovations of facilities such as bathrooms and the installation of new water fountains. District officials highlighted that the approval of the first question was crucial for voters to consider additional funding options presented in a second question, which, unfortunately, was rejected by the electorate.
Cinnaminson Township’s Superintendent, Stephen Cappello, expressed gratitude for the community’s support, emphasizing that the outcome is a testament to civic engagement and the importance of every vote. The passage of the bond will lead to an estimated annual tax increase of approximately 9 for a home assessed at the township’s average value of 6,538. Additionally, state contributions of .8 million will supplement the bond funding.
As for the second proposal, it would have generated additional funding for creating new classrooms at Memorial School, constructing a gym at Eleanor Rush Elementary, and installing a synthetic field at Cinnaminson High School. This proposal was firmly rejected, with voters opting against the requested .3 million in spending.
In a related electoral outcome, voters in nearby Clementon decisively turned down a separate .5 million bond question that would have funded an early childhood center for preschoolers. This initiative would have resulted in an estimated annual increase of 3 for residents in homes assessed at the borough’s average.
These measures, tested in separate elections, are part of the larger, periodic opportunities provided to school boards to request bond approvals to fund projects typically outside the governance of their annual operating budgets. Looking ahead, two local districts, Collingswood Public Schools and the Bordentown Regional School District, have already announced plans for bond questions in the upcoming general election scheduled for November 3.
As Cinnaminson embarks on its upcoming educational initiatives, school officials plan to finalize bidding timelines and construction plans in the months to come, with the goal of enhancing the learning environment for its students through tangible infrastructure improvements.
