FAQs

A bond referendum is a special election that asks local voters for permission to sell bonds and borrow money for large-scale school improvements. These projects are too extensive to be funded through the district's annual operating budget. 

New Jersey school districts pursue this financial path for two primary reasons: to spread project costs over time, similar to how a homeowner finances a major improvement, and to access state aid that is available only through an approved bond referendum. 

The Hanover Township Public Schools bond referendum is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2027. This vote will allow eligible Hanover Township voters to decide whether the district may move forward with the proposed improvements. 

Hanover Township Public Schools has not held a bond referendum since 2002. The district has continued to maintain its schools through the annual operating budget, but many facilities now need significant infrastructure, safety and security updates. 

Community feedback gathered through the district's strategic planning process also reinforced the importance of ensuring that school facilities reflect the excellence of Hanover Township's academic programs. 

The Board of Education, administration and architectural advisers conducted a districtwide review of all four schools. The proposed projects were selected to address critical building needs, benefit every school and qualify for the maximum amount of state aid available to the district. 

The proposal focuses on infrastructure, safety, security and learning-environment improvements rather than additions or expansion. 

Every school would receive districtwide improvements to roofs, windows, parking areas, roads, doors, bathrooms, ceilings, lighting, flooring, HVAC equipment, fire alarms, security cameras, access controls and public address and intercom systems.  Additional school-specific projects would address needs at Bee Meadow School, Mountview Road School, Salem Drive School and Memorial Junior School. 

The annual operating budget supports day-to-day educational programs, staffing, services, supplies and routine maintenance. The proposed projects are large-scale improvements that would be difficult to complete through the annual budget without competing with other district priorities. 

Bond funding would allow the district to complete a coordinated set of improvements, spread payments over 20 years and capture approximately $23.7 million in state aid to offset the local share. 

The district's last bond referendum was held in 2002. Since then, the district has relied on its annual operating budget to maintain and repair its four schools. 

If voters approve the referendum, all four schools would receive the following improvements: 

• Repair and repave parking areas and roads. 

• Replace roofs and windows. 

• Replace interior doors and upgrade hardware for accessibility. 

• Renovate ceilings and replace lighting and flooring. 

• Renovate bathrooms. 

• Upgrade security camera systems. 

• Replace unit ventilators. 

• Upgrade public address and intercom systems and access controls. 

• Replace fire alarm systems. 

• Upgrade the building management system for HVAC equipment. 

In addition to the districtwide infrastructure and critical safety and security improvements, the referendum would install new rooftop HVAC units and renovate Bee Meadow School's existing media center. 

In addition to the districtwide infrastructure and critical safety and security improvements, the referendum would install new rooftop HVAC units at Mountview Road School. 

In addition to the districtwide infrastructure and critical safety and security improvements, the referendum would install new rooftop HVAC Units at Salem Drive.

In addition to the districtwide infrastructure and critical safety and security improvements, the referendum would: 

• Install new lockers. 

• Install new cabinets, counters and storage in the science labs. 

• Install new rooftop HVAC units. 

• Install a new emergency power system. 

• Renovate the existing media center. 

The proposal includes upgraded security cameras, access controls, public address and intercom systems and fire alarm systems at all four schools. Memorial Junior School would also receive a new emergency power system. Together, these projects would update systems that support day-to-day building security and emergency communication. 

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems draw air in, filter it, and move it through a building. New, energy-efficient HVAC systems at Mountview Road School, Salem Drive School, and Memorial Junior School would bring air conditioning to the areas that don’t have it now, such as the gym at Salem Drive, or where inefficient window or floor units are being used in classrooms. This is especially important to creating a healthier and more comfortable learning environment. Unit ventilators in classrooms would also be replaced throughout the district. Unit ventilators bring fresh air into classrooms and heat or cool it as necessary. These improvements would update how the district heats, ventilates and manages indoor conditions in the schools.

Yes. The proposal includes bathroom renovations at Bee Meadow School, Mountview Road School, Salem Drive School and Memorial Junior School. 

Yes. Interior doors at all four schools would be replaced and would include upgraded hardware for accessibility. 

The total estimated project cost is $69.8 million. That total includes approximately $23.7 million in state aid and an estimated local share of $46.1 million. 

The state of New Jersey provides a type of aid for eligible school construction projects when local voters approve a bond referendum. The proposed Hanover Township projects qualify for approximately $23.7 million in state aid, or about 34% of the total project cost. 

Hanover Township residents already contribute to this funding through state taxes. Voter approval of the bond referendum is required to bring these dollars back to Hanover Township Public Schools and use them toward the proposed projects. 

After applying approximately $23.7 million in state aid, the estimated local share would be $46.1 million. The local share would be financed through bonds and repaid over 20 years. 

For a home assessed at Hanover Township's average of $431,500, the estimated tax impact would be approximately $32 per month. 

The actual impact for an individual property would depend on its assessed value. The cost would be shared among all taxable properties in Hanover Township. 

A property's assessed value is the figure used to calculate property taxes. Its market value is an estimate of what the property could sell for and may be different from the assessed value. Residents should use their property's assessed value when estimating the referendum's tax impact. 

Residents can find their assessed value through the municipality's online property records. The district will provide a link to the property-record search and an online tax-impact calculator on the referendum website. 

A 20-year repayment period would spread the cost of major, long-lasting improvements over time. This approach is similar to how a homeowner finances a major repair or renovation rather than paying the full cost at once. 

New Jersey offers property tax relief programs that may benefit eligible residents, including ANCHOR, Senior Freeze and Stay NJ. Eligibility requirements and benefit amounts vary and may change. Residents should consult the New Jersey Division of Taxation website for the latest information and application requirements. 

Eligible registered voters who live in Hanover Township may participate in the Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2027, bond referendum. Residents who previously registered using the same name and Hanover Township address do not need to register again. 

The deadline to register to vote or update a voter registration is Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2027. Residents who recently moved, changed their legal name or are unsure of their status should check the New Jersey voter registration database. 

In-person voting will be available Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2027. Polling locations and hours will be added to the referendum website as the election approaches. 

Some voters have requested to receive a vote-by-mail ballot automatically for all elections. Residents can check their status by contacting the Morris County Election Office at elections@co.morris.nj.us. 

Voters who are not scheduled to receive a ballot automatically can apply to vote by mail. To receive a ballot through the mail, the County Clerk's Office must receive the application by Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2027. Voters may also apply in person at the County Clerk's Election Division until 3 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25, 2027. 

A completed vote-by-mail ballot may be returned by mail, placed in an authorized secure ballot drop box or delivered to the Morris County Board of Elections. A mailed ballot must be postmarked by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2027, and received by the Board of Elections within the state-mandated period. Ballots returned to a drop box or the Board of Elections must be submitted by 8 p.m. on Election Day. 

Vote-by-mail ballots cannot be submitted at polling places. 

A provisional ballot protects a person's ability to vote when eligibility cannot be confirmed immediately at the polling place. For example, a voter who was issued a vote-by-mail ballot but goes to an in-person polling place may be required to use a provisional ballot. Election officials will determine whether the ballot can be counted after confirming the voter's eligibility and that another ballot was not submitted. 

Anyone who believes they are eligible but is turned away at a polling place should ask for a provisional ballot. 

The district will provide regular updates through its referendum website, social media, local news media, mailings, flyers and community events. The website will include detailed project information, financial information, voting resources and updated FAQs. 

The district will also hold a virtual community forum on Zoom at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2026, and an in-person community forum with building tours at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2027. 

Questions may be emailed to referendum@hanovertwpschools.org. The district will use community questions to update its FAQs and provide additional information throughout the referendum process.