Point Boro Residents Narrowly Approve School Repairs Referendum

A $15.9 million spending plan to repair roofs and boilers at several Point Pleasant Borough schools passed public vote by less than 100 votes.

Unofficial results from the Ocean County Clerk's office show 940 votes approved the referendum, while 846 voted no. The yes votes had 52.63 percent of the 1,786 total votes.

The project would raise taxes by $81 a year based on the average home value. 

Voters had between 2 to 9 p.m. to get to the polls, on a day forecast for poor winter weather. The school district had early dismissals for its students due to the threat of snow.
But despite the poor weather and the non-Election Day referendum, the 1,700-plus residents came out to help decide the fate of what Point Borough Schools administration was saying is a very dire project that now comes with state reimbursement.

The district says the state will be reimbursing the school district 40 percent of the cost of the project.

The plan addresses “critically needed” repairs and improvements to  according to the district. For example, three of the schools’ roofs are more than 24 years old, have been assessed for repairs and are out of warranty.

Point Boro plans to address the roofs at Nellie Bennett, the high school and middle school, then assorted boilers and heating and ventilation units.