NJ election 2026: Somerset, Hunterdon ballot questions

Voters across Somerset and Hunterdon counties will decide several ballot questions in the Nov. 3 general election, including school construction projects, fire equipment purchases and open-space funding.

Among the most consequential questions, voters will decide whether Bloomsbury may join the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District and whether Warren Township should spend an estimated $7.5 million to preserve and renovate its former municipal building as community meeting space.

Somerset County ballot questions

Branchburg school referendum seeks $34.8 million

Branchburg voters will decide on a scaled-back $34.8 million bond referendum to fund improvements at district schools and an expansion of Stony Brook School .

The referendum is divided into two questions:

• Question 1seeks $15 million for improvements at Whiton Elementary School , Stony Brook School and Branchburg Central Middle School . If approved, it would increase taxes on the average home by about $89.47 annually, or $22.35 per quarter.

• Question 2seeks $19.8 million for an expansion at Stony Brook School that would add a gymnasium, nurse's suite, classrooms and restrooms. The additional tax impact would be about $138.57 annually, or $34.65 per quarter. The second question would take effect only if both questions are approved.

In 2025, township voters overwhelmingly rejected a $70 million plan that included an addition at Stony Brook School with classrooms, a gymnasium, cafeteria and media center, along with districtwide HVAC, electrical and security upgrades.

Warren voters to consider Hofheimer House renovation

Warren voters will be asked in a nonbinding referendum whether the township should appropriate funds and incur an estimated $7.5 million in debt to preserve and renovate the Hofheimer House on Mountain Boulevard as community meeting space.

The Hofheimer House served as the township's municipal building but has been vacant since 2017, when the township government moved into the current municipal building.

Based on a 20-year bond issue, the project would increase the municipal portion of the property tax bill on a home assessed at the township average of $1.02 million by approximately $81 per year.

More: NJ election 2026: What Middlesex, Union County voters will decide

Hunterdon County ballot questions

Delaware Valley seeks replacement fire alarm system

Voters in West Amwell, Lambertville and Stockton will decide whether to spend $926,000 to replace the 20-year-old fire alarm system at Delaware Valley Regional High School .

The school district would receive $314,840 in state debt service aid, with the remaining $611,160 coming from the district's capital reserve. Passage of the ballot question would not result in a property tax increase.

Flemington-Raritan proposes $30.3 million bond

Flemington and Raritan Township voters will decide whether the Flemington-Raritan Regional School District should adopt a $30.3 million bond to fund facility renovations, equipment purchases and infrastructure upgrades across all six district schools . The proposal is backed by 40% state debt service aid.

Under the proposal, funding would be allocated as follows :

• Francis A. Desmares Elementary School: $1.15 million.

• J.P. Case Middle School: $9.73 million.

• Reading-Fleming Intermediate School: $8.87 million.

• Robert Hunter Elementary School: $6.44 million.

• Barley Sheaf Elementary School: $2.83 million.

• Copper Hill Elementary School: $1.3 million.

According to the district, the debt service portion of property tax bills is expected to decrease because the district is paying off existing debt and the proposed new debt would be less than the debt that is ending.

In Flemington, the estimated annual debt service tax on the average assessed home would decrease from approximately $246 to $187.

In Raritan Township, the estimated annual debt service tax on the average assessed home would decrease from approximately $418 to $317.

Holland school questions total $15.9 million

Holland Township voters will consider two school district questions totaling $15.9 million .

The first question would fund wooden window and slate roof replacements, new ventilators in all middle school classrooms, HVAC controls, gymnasium ventilation, replacement of the boiler in the 1939 wing, asbestos removal and steam trap replacement.

The second question would fund renovations to four staff restrooms, the cafeteria, art room, music room and bathrooms in the 1959 wing. The work also would include replacing the cafeteria stage floor, installing theatrical lighting, removing cork walls, replacing lockers and installing a burglar alarm.

If voters approve the ballot questions, residents could see an estimated increase of approximately $29 per month in the school debt tax on a home assessed at the township average of $284,239.

More: Early voting starts Oct. 24 in NJ. Find sites in Central Jersey

Lambertville seeks $7.5 million for fire equipment, station

Lambertville Fire District No. 1's ballot question asks voters to approve spending $7.5 million to purchase three fire trucks and make improvements to the firehouse.

The proposed purchases include a fire engine, tanker truck and ladder truck.

The firehouse work would include an addition, renovations to the fire truck bays, HVAC improvements, roof replacement, electrical and water upgrades, site drainage work and repairs to asphalt and sidewalks.

The estimated property tax impact on a house assessed at $500,000 would range from $60.71 in 2028 to $258.04 in 2032.

Voters to decide whether Bloomsbury joins regional district

Voters in 13 northern Hunterdon County municipalities will be asked whether Bloomsbury should be permitted to join the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District .

The municipalities are Bethlehem, Bloomsbury, Califon, Clinton Town, Clinton Township, Franklin Township, Glen Gardner, Hampton, High Bridge, Lebanon Borough, Lebanon Township, Tewksbury and Union Township.

Beginning with the 2025-26 school year, Bloomsbury students began attending North Hunterdon-Voorhees schools through a sending-receiving relationship rather than attending Phillipsburg High School.

If the referendum is approved, Bloomsbury would receive representation on the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Board of Education, which would increase from 12 to 13 members. Union Township and Bloomsbury together would have two seats on the board.

If the ballot question is rejected, Bloomsbury students would continue attending the regional high school district under the existing sending-receiving relationship, but Bloomsbury would not have a vote on the school board.

Approval would have no property tax impact, and Bloomsbury's pre-K-8 program would not be affected.

Bloomsbury has between 21 and 29 high school students per year. With the borough's property tax ratables included in the regional district's funding, the other 12 municipalities would collectively save close to $80,000 annually.

More: Ballot drop boxes now open across Central Jersey. Here's where

West Amwell considers variable open-space tax rate

West Amwell residents will be asked whether to allow the Township Committee to change the annual levy rate for the Municipal Open Space, Farmland, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund.

The ballot question would change the levy from a fixed rate of 6 cents per $100 of assessed value to a variable rate not exceeding 6 cents per $100.

The tax was expected to generate $444,000 this year for the fund, which was established in 2000.

Email: mdeak@MyCentralJersey.com

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ election 2026: Somerset, Hunterdon ballot questions