Judgment Day: The Bancroft Referendum

1. The $12.5 million referendum being decided today is for the public purchase of the 19.2-acre Bancroft property at 425 Kings Highway East. The Board of Education and the borough have entered into a joint purchase agreement "to seize the opportunity of acquiring this historic and prominent 'gateway into Haddonfield' for use by the community at large, for educational and recreational purposes, to allow for possible future school expansion and development of a high school campus, and to secure an open space legacy."

2. Opponents of the referendum say: "Supporters of the bond referendum may claim that the property tax increases will be ‘small,’ but our town’s middle-class residents and seniors on fixed incomes can't afford more we already pay twice the state average in property taxes, more than $12,000."

3. At the borrowing amount of $12.5 million dollars, discounting for grants or other sources of funds, and based on a 3.3 percent rate over 20 years, the average annual impact will be $189.00 on the average assessed value for a residential property of $491,345.00, according to the school board.

4. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Voting Locations

• Tatem School, 1 Glover Ave (music room) Districts 2 &10

• Middle School, Chestnut Ave (gym rear entrance) Districts 3 & 4

• Elizabeth Haddon School, 501 W. Redman Ave.(art room) Districts 6 & 7

• Middle School, Chestnut Avenue (gym rear entrance) Districts 1 & 5

• Lutheran Church, 204 Wayne Avenue (parish hall) Districts 8 & 9

5. Haddon Patch will feature a live chat starting at 8 p.m. Tuesday with updates and chat on the Bancroft referendum. Haddon Patch will have live coverage of results when polls close at 9 p.m. Find out what happens here first.