Case Study

THE SITUATION

When Cranford voters supported the January 2024 bond referendum, it wasn’t only a vote for district-wide improvements – it was a vote in favor of full-day kindergarten. The referendum funded the construction of kindergarten classroom additions at four elementary schools. However, after that vote, the district needed to hold a budget vote in November 2025 to fund operating costs, including staffing, to support the tuition-free, full-day kindergarten program. Bond funding can’t be used for staffing and other operational costs, creating the need for a second vote.

Plans for that second vote changed when the state announced a new funding solution in the Spring of 2025 for qualified districts. District administration and the Board of Education unanimously approved a plan to participate in Tax Levy Incentive Aid program to use local and state funds for staffing, operational costs and related services for the district’s full-day kindergarten.

THE STRATEGY

Cranford was clear on the funding strategy but needed to communicate transparently with its community members to share how this plan actually saves residents’ money. The savings were twofold: not holding a budget vote saved the district tens of thousands of dollars in election-related costs, and the district could benefit from $63,000 in state aid to kickstart the kindergarten program.

To communicate the funding change, the district sent a postcard to every resident in the community and created a comprehensive website to answer questions related to the referendum and Tax Levy Incentive Aid program. A direct email address for questions helped provide further transparency.

The materials clearly explained the tax strategy and got residents excited about the kindergarten program through architectural drawings. Likewise, materials were supportive of senior citizens by offering information about property tax relief programs in New Jersey and encouraged the whole community to subscribe to the district’s e-newsletter.