Why YES / YES?
YES / YES keeps decisions local
• Avoid a state monitor
YES on Question 1 pays debt now and avoids 10 years of state control and annual repayments. Why a state monitor is bad for our community.
• Stop January cuts
YES on Question 2 funds the current year so midyear layoffs and program cuts don’t go through.
• Stabilize to fix oversight
The Superintendent outlined new controls, audits, and reporting to prevent this from happening again.
• Protect home values & community
Strong schools protect property values and the magnet system that makes Montclair special.
What’s on the ballot
Special Election: N.J.S.A. 18A:22-40
Election Day is Tue., Dec. 9, 4–8pm.
Question 1: Vote YES
Pay off $12.6M debt with a one-time tax payment, and avoid state monitor.
Question 2: Vote YES
Bridge $7M gap this year and future years via a property tax increase.
The four scenarios—and what each means
Township votes No on both Q1 & Q2 (No / No)
State monitor in control of finances.
Less budget per year as we repay the state and pay the monitor.
January cuts proceed (and may deepen).
Township votes Yes on Q1 & No on Q2 (Yes / No)
Local control retained, but January cuts proceed and likely more in September.
Township votes No on Q1 & Yes on Q2 (No / Yes)
State Monitor controls finances for 10 years.
Fewer immediate cuts, but we lose local control of financial decisions.
Township votes Yes on both Q1 & Q2 (Yes / Yes)
Avoids a state monitor.
Avoids January cuts.
Buy time to implement oversight reforms.
Myth vs. Fact
MYTH:
“A state monitor will fix it faster.”
FACT:
Monitors override financial decisions and often cut to state minimums, not community standards. Learn more in the following section. ⬇️
MYTH:
“This is just more of the same.”
FACT:
New leadership has put line-item budgets, variance reviews, multi-year forecasts, audit rotation, and real-time alerts on the table.
MYTH:
“Special education will be cut.”
FACT:
IEPs are legal mandates; services must be provided.
State monitor = loss of local control.
Once appointed, a State Monitor can override the Board of Education and town on budgets, staffing, contracts, and even compel tax hikes within or above the 2% cap via waivers.
Monitors often order program cuts, school consolidations, and busing reductions based on state minimums, not Montclair’s priorities.
Communities under monitorship have seen arts, sports, busing, and clubs cut as taxes still rise. Further, a district pays a monitor’s salary (compensation TBD).
