WEST LONG BRANCH — The Board of Education has finally made it official: there will be a referendum, Sept. 30, on a bond issue to construct an addition and make renovations at the borough’s two-school complex.

The board voted at its last meeting to put on the ballot a question asking voters if they will back the $7,645,999 project. Taxpayers would shoulder $5,538,462 of the cost, with the state providing the other $2,107,537 share under the Educational Facilities and Construction Act.

A fact sheet provided by the pubic schools said that, assuming a 15-year maturity schedule and an interest rate of 4 percent at the time the bonds are sold, provided the referendum is passed, the tax increase to support it will be approximately $70 per year — or $5.83 a month — for each $100,000 or assessed valuation. That means a property assessed at $300,000 will be taxed approximately an additional $210 a year, according to school district figures.

A second question on the ball will seek permission to refinance the remaining debt on the Betty McElmon School, so as to save money with lower interest.

The central element of the project is construction of a new one-story addition, which will be connected to both the Betty McElmon and the Frank Antonides schools, with a media center/library to serve all grades from K-8, two computer labs, an art room, a music room with three small music chambers, three classrooms and a small group instruction room.