The Jackson School District has been working through financial challenges for several years. The district has made difficult decisions to reduce costs, including:

• Closing two schools and selling the properties to balance the budget;
• Reconfiguring grade levels and school structures;
• Reducing operating costs; and
• Challenging the state’s school funding formula.
• These decisions were made to preserve the Jackson School District’s educational programming, extracurricular activities and overall experience for students and families.

Now, the district has a unique, tax-neutral opportunity to take another important step toward long-term financial stability. The Dec. 8 ballot question would allow the district to replace existing debt from a previous referendum with new funds to strengthen the district’s annual budget and financial position, while keeping the tax rate steady.

The vote is about moving Jackson School District from a period of financial instability toward a more sustainable future, with no change in taxes.
 

Jackson residents are currently paying $29.66/month for school debt from a referendum approved by voters in 2006. The debt will be paid off in June 2027.

This creates an important opportunity. On Dec. 8, Jackson voters can choose to reinvest in Jackson School District by converting the expiring portion of the district’s debt into funds the district can use for its students, programs and operations. 

This vote would allow for the average homeowner to apply that $29.66/month to move the district toward long-term financial stability while keeping the tax rate steady.

The timing is also important from a broader financial perspective. The Jackson School District has relied on one-time resources to help balance its operating budget. For the 2026-2027 school year, the district faced an approximately $10 million budget gap, which was addressed in part through the sale of Christa McAuliffe Middle School.

One-time revenues have helped to address immediate budget challenges, but they are not a sustainable long-term budget solution. You wouldn’t pay your mortgage every month by taking money out of your savings account; a sustainable operating budget requires continuous and steady funding.
The Dec. 8 special election provides an opportunity to begin moving away from short-term solutions and establish a stronger foundation.

If the special question is approved, Jackson School District would:

• Continue to fund the meaningful and robust educational, athletic, extra-curricular experiences our students deserve.
• Increase the operating budget by $7.8 MILLION, greatly limiting the amount of property-sale proceeds needed to balance future budgets.
• Repay the outstanding State Aid advance (also known as a loan), eliminating the assignment and expense of a State Fiscal Monitor.

The Jackson School District would:

• Continue to have a State-assigned Fiscal Monitor with override ability regarding district decisions; and
   
• Continue to utilize the proceeds of property sales to balance future budgets.

If the Jackson Township School District does not permanently increase its annual revenue, the Jackson Township School District will return to a structural budgetary deficit for the 2028-2029 budget year, and it will have no mechanism to close the deficit without again applying massive cuts, due to the caps on our tax levy each year.

The Sylvia Rosenauer Elementary School was sold on June 18, 2025 for $13.1 million.  The proceeds of the sale were allocated to:

• Payoff an equipment lease on the building;
• Balance the 2024-2025 budget;
• Supplement the 2025-2026 budget, and
• Approximately $4 million was also transferred to the district’s Capital Reserve for building repairs and to the district’s Maintenance Reserve for maintenance costs at the other schools. 

The Christa McAuliffe Middle School was sold on July 28, 2026 for $40 million. That included $35 million at closing and the remaining $5 million paid annually over 10 years. The proceeds of the sale will be allocated to:

• Pay off an equipment lease on the building;
• Balance the 2025-2026 budget, and 
• Support the 2026-2027, and 2027-2028 annual budgets. 

The Dec. 8 special election is the next step toward securing the financial future of the district.
 

The total amount of the proposal is $7,786,800. This amount would be spread among all taxpayers in Jackson and would be paid annually as part of their tax bills. 

No. This school debt proposal is tax neutral when compared to the total tax levy for the 26-27 school budget.

On Dec. 8, Jackson voters can choose to reinvest in Jackson School District by converting the expiring portion of the district’s debt into funds the district can use for its students, programs and operations. This vote would allow for the average homeowner to apply that $29.66/month to move the district toward long-term financial stability while keeping the tax rate steady.

No, but it’s a step in the right direction.  

Jackson will continue to face challenges related to state funding, transportation, enrollment and other factors outside the district’s control. This is an important step toward getting Jackson on solid financial footing to address those challenges from a stronger position. 

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.  

The debt from the referendum approved by voters in 2006 will be paid off in June 2027. 

Registered voters who live in Jackson Township may participate in the Dec, 8, 2026 special election. Residents who previously registered using the same name and Jackson Township address do not need to register again. 

The deadline to register to vote or update a voter registration is Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2026. 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, Dec. 8, 2026. Polling locations and hours will be added to this 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 Ocean County Election Office at OCElectionBoard@co.ocean.nj.us 

Voters who are not signed up 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, Dec. 1, 2026. Voters may also apply in person at the County Clerk's Election Division until 3 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 7, 2026. 

A completed vote-by-mail ballot may be returned by mail, placed in an authorized secure ballot drop box or delivered to the Ocean County Board of Elections. A mailed ballot must be postmarked by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2026, and received by the Board of Elections within the state-mandated period.  

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.