Midland Park December 19, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 3 Midland Park voters last week overwhelmingly defeated two public questions seeking $15.27 million to upgrade facilities and athletic fields in the borough’s public schools. Voters reject both school facilities bonding questions With 36 percent of the borough’s 4,840 registered voters casting ballots in the special election, Question No. 1 went down by 479 votes. Question No. 2 was defeated by 646 votes. The negative results were more pronounced in voting District 5, where 41 percent of voters turned out and defeated both questions by more than 65 percent. Speaking for the board of education, President William Sullivan thanked the voters who took the time to cast their ballots in the special election. “I was happy to see a spirited dialogue among residents regarding public education for the students of Midland Park. We knew that regardless of the outcome, the board was going to have plenty of work to do moving forward, and we will continue to address the district’s facilities needs and explore every possible solution. The results of this vote, along with public input we have received, will weigh heavily on the board’s thinking as we continue this process,” Sullivan said. “I hope we sent the board a message that maintenance cannot be treated as an emergency. It’s not right,” said Peter Jeffer, the spokesman for the Midland Park Taxpayers Alliance, a group formed to raise citizen awareness of the referendum’s costs. “The board should plan for the work and include it in its budget,” he added. Question No. 1 was turned down with 1106 no votes to 627 yes. If approved it would have provided $12.194 mil- lion for capital projects and infrastructure upgrades, including doors/windows, mechanical systems, roofing and auditorium improvements at all three borough schools. Question No. 2 went down with 1141 no votes to 495 yes. This proposal sought $3.077 million to refurbish the auditorium at Midland Park High School, and for the installation of synthetic turf, new track and bleachers, stadium lighting and scoreboard at the high school athletic field. Midland Park schools serve 1,089 students in grades K-12: 559 in grades K-6 at Godwin and Highland schools, and 530 in grades 7-12 at the high school. Additionally there are 45 hearing impaired youngsters in the elementary schools and 32 at the high school building. The $15 million proposal would have cost the owner of a house assessed at $392,000, the borough’s average, $405.48 per year in additional taxes for the next 20 years, according to the board’s estimates. The district is still paying off the remaining debt on the $12.3 million referendum approved in 2003, for which the board received $3.4 million in state aid. No state aid was available to support the projects in this referendum. Boosters benefit from golf outing Legends Steakhouse in Midland Park donated the proceeds of its 4th Annual Golf Outing to the Midland Park High School Boosters Club. Above, Legends partner Robert Corcoran, Sr. presents a check for $2,768 to Cathy House, representing the Boosters.