Voters had previously rejected a $24 million proposal in September. Watch video
The proposal included renovations to the Manasquan High School's science lab. (Photo courtesy of the Manasquan High School)MANASQUAN -- For the second time in nearly four months, voters on Tuesday rejected a $20 million proposal for infrastructure upgrades to the township's schools and its athletic fields.
The first rejection came in September, when voters struck down a $24 million proposal for a laundry list of facility improvements.
Officials then split the proposed bond referendum into two separate questions, totaling $19.9 million in improvements.
The first question, which honed in on infrastructure improvements to the township's elementary and high school, received 932 "no" votes to 833 "yes" votes, according to the unofficial results posted by the Monmouth County Clerk's Office.
The gap was wider among voters on the second question, which was comprised of nearly $5 million in athletic field upgrades. That question received 1,052 "no" votes and 703 "yes" votes.
These results include mail-in ballots but are pending the provisional ballots.
In an interview with NJ Advance Media, Superintendent Frank Kasyan said Wednesday that the vote was closer than it was in September, which shows the district's call for much-needed school improvements is resonating among voters.
"I think the community is listening," he said. "I think Manasquan is a great community and they go out and support education. We're going to go out and keep trying because we need fixes to our infrastructure. ... We have to reach out and do a survey and find out why people cast a no vote."
In a letter to Manasquan residents prior to the vote, Kasyan said the plan put forth by the district was "fiscally responsible" and included no net tax increases.
"I hope you will agree we have worked very had to present a project to voters that not only addresses urgent needs in our academic and athletic facilities but does so in a fiscally responsible way sensitive to our taxpayers," the letter states.
While the total cost of both questions amounted to $19.9 million, Kasyan said, the state would cover $5 million of the total cost. That would bring the total cost to Manasquan taxpayers to $14.9 million, Kasyan said.
He said in his letter to residents that misinformation on the proposals had been spread through public comments, letters in newspapers, mailers and flyers.
"While individuals with their own agendas have nothing to lose by misrepresenting this project or its costs," Kasyan wrote in the letter, "the very nature of my job and my reputation as an educator for 30 years requires I tell the truth."
Improvements in the elementary schools included field renovations, a new playground for grades 5 through 8, window replacements, HVAC repairs and safety and security improvements.
In the high school, a significant portion of funding was allocated for renovations to the school's science lab. It also called for improvements to the school's infrastructure, which hasn't seen upgrades in certain areas since the 1960s.
If the second question was approved by voters, the athletic fields would have received a new snack shack, a realigned baseball field with new artificial turf and a new multi-purpose athletic facility in the rear of the school.
Kasyan said the referendum committee will meet next week to discuss the direction the board wants to go in. On Feb. 23, the Board of Education will have its next meeting and discuss what came from the committee's meeting.
"We just have to correct it, there was no incremental tax impact (if) both questions passed," he said. "... So we need to take a step back and see why this happened."
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include comments from Manasquan Superintendent Frank Kasyan. An initial version of this story said Kasyan could not be reached for comment.
Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.