Voters OK $18 million
for new Memorial School
EAST BRUNSWICK — Voters on Tuesday approved nearly $18 million to build a new Memorial Elementary School, replacing the former structure that was largely destroyed in a July 2008 fire.
The referendum received 2,415 affirmative votes and 2,056 against, according to preliminary results released by the school district. Slightly more than 14 percent of the township’s registered voters cast ballots.
The school, located on Innes Road, will actually cost $23.8 million, but thanks to a $4.24 million state grant and $1.62 million in capital reserve funds, residents were only asked to foot $17.96 million of the bill.
The tax impact of the referendum will be $58 on a home assessed at $100,000. This will appear in the first tax bill received after July 2010.
Officials said that with the referendum approved, the damaged building will soon be demolished so construction can start on the new facility, which is scheduled to open in September 2012.
Memorial students have been housed at the former Corpus Christi School in South River since September 2008. The Board of Education is leasing the former Catholic school building and grounds for $60,493 per month. The district’s insurance company paid for the first year of the lease, and officials said they are pursuing having the insurance company pay for the 2009-10 school year. If insurance covers that cost, the funds will be applied to lower the overall school tax, officials said.