1st GEHR Bond Passes By 120 Votes - Absentee Ballots To Be Counted

Hamilton, home to Oakcrest High School, which would receive significant repairs and improvements funded by Question 1, voted 1,243 yes, to 635 no.
Galloway came in at 1,133 yes and 1,444 no, Mullica voted 180 yes and 297 no, and Egg Harbor City tallied 118 yes and 178 no.
http://www.shorenewstoday.com/snt/news/index.php/galloway-twp/galloway-twp-general-news/62830-one-up-two-down-in-three-part-regional-school-district-referendum.html

Only the first of three bond referenda proposed by the Greater Egg Harbor Regional School District was approved by voters Tuesday at the polls.

But even that vote is close, and district officials were cautiously optimistic as they wait for absentee ballots to be counted Wednesday.

The first bond was the most important and included health and safety issues at all three high schools including a new HVAC system at Oakcrest High School that would allow the school to gain air conditioning.

That bond passed by a 120 vote margin, with 2,674 yes votes and 2,554 no votes.

The other two bonds both failed; the second by a vote of 2,328 yes to 2,831 no; and the third by a vote of 2,051 yes to 2,995 no.

Poll results provided by the district show voters in Hamilton Township were the most positive, approving all three bonds. Voters in Galloway Township, Mullica Township and Egg Harbor City rejected all three, but the votes in Hamilton were enough to gain a small margin of victory on the first bond.

School superintendent John Keenan said they understood that passing all three would be a challenge because of economic conditions in the area.

“I am happy that it appears that we will be able to make some significant improvements,” Keenan said.  He said he did not know how many absentee ballots had been submitted.

The first bond also came with the most state aid, about $11 million of the $20.3 cost.

The annual cost to taxpayers, per $100,000 of assessed value, will be $11.30 in Egg Harbor City, $12.60 in Galloway Township, $11 in Hamilton Township and $17.10 in Mullica Township.

Other work at the 55-year-old Oakcrest will include renovations and upgrades to bathrooms, the lobby, security, classroom lighting, and locker rooms would also be upgraded.

Work at Absegami, which is 32 years old, includes technology upgrades, enhanced security, HVAC rooftop unit replacement, and locker room renovations.

Cedar Creek will get enhanced security and additional servers and software updates to meet increased demand
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/education/greater-egg-voters-pass-one-bond-but-await-absentee-ballots/article_2cc1f306-c79c-11e4-85bc-672be2c56b3d.html

Related posts
http://gadfly01.blogspot.com/2015/03/gehr-referendum-vote-today.html

Absentee ballots counted - Bond passes
http://gadfly01.blogspot.com/2015/03/gehr-absentee-ballots-counted-bond.html