[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6576211,"mediaKeyId","3157633-d9a4d330e2f76ac608c3888061f5cc14","parentId",3157633,"title","Montgomery board adopts smaller bank-cap budget option after contentious public hearing","audioSeconds",1482,"startMs",9991000,"endMs",11473000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3157633-d9a4d330e2f76ac608c3888061f5cc14&start=9991&end=11473","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3157633-d9a4d330e2f76ac608c3888061f5cc14/thumbnail_9991000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6576211/New-Jersey/Montgomery-board-adopts-smaller-bank-cap-budget-option-after-contentious-public-hearing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576211-a75cbc6af95c4a7c542c94a6902fb66a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770686257&Signature=JqLsshmST-5v0ANPljxXiGsHUHFn3eatAGT24cTeCF1q0Bnqpjw2-ariSelHxvwIgHyHaeqNL28NAOfSkMQY1qkPhkXT9TI4Ezwr~ILPtnNBEmzXUmUcpACLd3M2-PqbXhq6a3o8Jlo5WyVVoUNjgm5DomEo0RA~PvagManyoxWwCJVj9likbaRrZZvz222PpV7-feEbCJdBGHQWXcnI7V02ek3akEhOEzimdAUQ2okiwb5NvstVx-ldIf2WUZrdQa0SIvUYnZAAf9gfojLtW6rF-CYBPy4l004AIwCQF2hT3VzW1a0JDuTXubyXN9japK-Wk-NEfPadpuFBVtzpLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montgomery Township School District","date","2025-04-30T17:14:38.637Z","article","The Montgomery Township Board of Education on April 29 adopted a modified 2025–26 budget that adds $779,863 from previously earned bank-cap credits to the district’s base budget, the administration said after a public hearing that ran for several hours.

The hearing presented four options the administration calculated in response to a tentative budget adopted in March. Business Administrator Andrew Italiano and Superintendent Mary McLaughlin outlined the choices for the board and the public: (1) use $2,600,000 from bank-cap/waiver funds (net tax effect ~4.98% for homeowners in samples provided by administration); (2) use $1,600,000 (net ≈3.79%); (3) use $779,863 (net ≈2.87%); or (4) adopt only the previously advertised 2% levy increase (no bank-cap use). After public Q&A and board discussion the board voted to adopt option 3, the administration said.

Why it mattered: Board members and district officials said salary and benefits account for about 85% of the district’s budget, and rising benefit costs and transportation and special-education outlays are driving deficits. The administration framed the bank-cap options as a way to “broaden the base” now to avoid deeper program cuts at a later date. Opponents and many residents warned any increase is burdensome, while teachers and parents urged the board to use the maximum available funds to avoid staff reductions and protect programs.

What the chosen option does: The adopted option adds $779,863 to the budget using bank-cap credits. In the administration’s breakdown that additional sum would allocate roughly $382,131 toward staff salaries and benefits and about $397,732 toward operations and maintenance. The adopted final budget figures listed in the resolution read: general fund $91,602,856; special revenue $1,062,987; anticipated revenue $12,781,471; debt service $5,256,913; for a total base budget reported as $110,705,227. The administration told the board the district intended to complete the stated uses by June 2026.

Public comment and board questioning: The public comment period was lengthy and strongly contested. Dozens of parents, teachers, alumni and representatives of the Montgomery Township Education Association urged the board to select the largest option (option 1) or at least option 2, saying small per-household increases preserve programs that drive student outcomes and town property values. Others — including several speakers who said they work in real estate or represent long-time residents — cautioned about the tax burden on middle-class and fixed-income households.

Board members pressed the administration for clarifications on the bank-cap mechanics (how credits are earned, three-year expirations) and the composition of the increased dollars. Business Administrator Italiano walked the board through the sources of the bank-cap credits (health-care adjustments and prior-year under-levies) and answered multiple questions about tax-impact examples the administration had prepared. Several board members asked for more detail about what specific positions would be preserved under each option; Italiano said the option 3 allocation would restore a meaningful subset of previously proposed salary cuts but leave others in place.

Other budget context raised at the meeting: administrators described transportation increases tied to mandated bus replacement schedules and noted the district is JFAC (meaning comparatively low state aid). They also described capital needs (ADA walkway at UMS, a roof/chiller project with partial state grant matches) and a separate, developing facilities assessment by an architect that could highlight larger future referendum needs.

Outcome and next steps: The board passed the final budget modification (the option 3 resolution read into the record as agenda item 3.29). A roll call was taken and the motion carried. The administration will implement the stated uses and report back to board committees as required. Several board members and community commenters asked the administration to continue pursuing grants, procurement efficiencies and extraordinary-aid (‘‘excess cost’’) reimbursements for special education to limit recurring local tax burden.

Ending note: The vote prompted visible emotion across the room; many teachers and parents had urged using more bank-cap funds to avoid layoffs, and many residents cautioned about added taxes. The administration repeated it will continue to monitor enrollment, state aid, and federal funds and report back to the board on both implementation and the architect’s facilities plan.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Meeting 4-29-25","oneSentenceSummary","The Montgomery Township Board of Education on April 29 adopted a modified 2025–26 budget that adds $779,863 from previously earned bank-cap credits to the district’s base budget, the administration said after a public hearing that ran for several hours.","taxTitle","Montgomery Township School District, School Districts, New Jersey","taxId",64102,"location","New Jersey","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6576205,"Superintendent recommends longtime UMS vice principal Mark Ricarte to be next UMS principal; start date July 1",210,187000,397000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3157633-d9a4d330e2f76ac608c3888061f5cc14&start=187&end=397","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3157633-d9a4d330e2f76ac608c3888061f5cc14/thumbnail_187000.jpg","/articles/6576205/New-Jersey/Superintendent-recommends-longtime-UMS-vice-principal-Mark-Ricarte-to-be-next-UMS-principal-start-date-July-1","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576205-b36d7005e514fd439ef6a53fd2589338/orig.mp4?Expires=1770686257&Signature=S3jyk8CjBZ9Jvvf5cX~KciTgoZliEnVOzJYss~RkmcGdAaz2lbBuiUdUDUqM0BPKtAxIsNb~3dKKK-JYFXM7JTei8hjb2FxBb5YcMVQqzhNjMDsmL0~wN5soUWICbhNNe5lJbKEQ6-jMyHeY3slAS10Roh4pcrcox7JjpQrB1CJB9yX699j6T24JYxZFXa96JEiA0gPnpYslCywDyjsh6CNRkswD6vz4g8sE~0SAmeV0X8x4YDt5Bzdel3fFtJLV5i2wgqAq-DDmH7jS425Cge2HkwoCu0JS3oGK2U4zXjHJWfOLAA0JdE7wORs62N2MASUcC2oO3DvpEUi5eu~B8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Mary McLaughlin announced at the April 29 meeting that she was recommending Mark Ricarte to the board as the next principal of Montgomery Upper Middle School.

McLaughlin described Ricarte as a longtime Montgomery Township School District staff member who began his career as a special-education teacher, has served as UMS vice principal for four years and, she said, holds multiple education degrees from The College of New Jersey. The superintendent said the board would be approving him during the meeting and that he is expected to begin the role on July 1.

Ricarte addressed the board and the public, said he has worked in the MTSD community for 11 years, and reviewed his background: special-education teaching across settings, leading musical productions, serving as eighth-grade advisor and supervising traditions such as Camp Mason and promotion. He said his priorities include support for students’ academic, social and emotional growth, strengthening multi-tiered systems of support, and continuing programs such as Cougar Care Day.

Ricarte thanked family, colleagues and mentors for support. After his remarks, board members and the public offered applause. The transcript records the superintendent’s announcement and Ricarte’s remarks but does not contain a separate, explicit roll-call vote on the appointment in the excerpt provided; the superintendent said the appointment would begin July 1.

Ending: The district will publish any formal personnel resolution and the effective start date in board minutes and the district personnel postings.","Superintendent Mary McLaughlin announced a recommended appointment of Mark Ricarte as principal of Montgomery Upper Middle School (UMS). Ricarte addressed the board and community, outlined his experience in special education and leadership, and said he will begin the role on July 1.","actionData","errors"]

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Montgomery board adopts smaller bank-cap budget option after contentious public hearing

Superintendent recommends longtime UMS vice principal Mark Ricarte to be next UMS principal; start date July 1