What happens if the November 2nd referendum does not pass?
If the referendum does not pass in either of the two districts, the districts will not consolidate. Here again, in the long term, if the consolidation referendum does not pass, the Westfield and Montello school districts will almost certainly need to independently pass operational referenda, which will most likely lead to the tax rate increasing beyond what it would for a consolidated district. Both district boards thus see consolidation as a way of ensuring that students have access to necessary educational offerings while also being responsive to the needs of taxpayers.
