[{"_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",6750047,"mediaKeyId","5359462-4bd9687a867977c8116cd8f49a93891f","parentId",5359462,"title","Collingswood board votes to apply for $6.44 million in one‑time state tax‑levy incentive aid","audioSeconds",1440,"startMs",2427000,"endMs",3867000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5359462-4bd9687a867977c8116cd8f49a93891f&start=2427&end=3867","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5359462-4bd9687a867977c8116cd8f49a93891f/thumbnail_2427000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6750047/New-Jersey/Collingswood-board-votes-to-apply-for-644-million-in-onetime-state-taxlevy-incentive-aid","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6750047-2ef3a8875ad1d3f37a3a12abf5bcde67/orig.mp4?Expires=1770849962&Signature=m10O8Iy1aB9tzqHL1-BT~V8p-ZGUi2o6MWLgpxjhxircg1fmsXgGE88LbJOQYOeQ34qyU~KP5hJSTeYoeMXrIGTeBLaXSqrHvZ9niatwBXle9NEQ6fERXk6ltx1dggHQLDDg-oN5D1GPclkdkNuqm11ZsLcSosg94jFDHxzX4SIf3ugx8MRjL1I0yTcn5XDXNZ7w5TNoKdjQWco7F-3gPIIM~R91wXEJwwTHBvVzDNlqMJajwXiCmc4R5pmTdZwx0~fA2R4GhDgtJrcLTusJHKeoB-TMOpFDJ8v5Q6jPX6lT4mT-m79NlPotsg1XPXEbQEyD5BLKo8LThM42vAd5MQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Collingswood Public School District, NJ","date","2025-07-11T04:02:54.81Z","article","The Collingswood Board of Education voted by roll call to submit an application to the New Jersey Department of Education seeking $6,442,543 in increased general fund appropriations for fiscal year 2026, including $6,135,755 to be raised through the local tax levy and an anticipated $306,788 in tax‑levy incentive aid from the state.

Board President Huey read the resolution into the record and framed the vote as the application step, not the final tax‑levy decision. She told the public that the district must submit the application by Monday the 14th; the NJDOE will then review the submission and notify the district which portions it concurs are necessary for a “thorough and efficient” education and how much of the requested levy increase it will approve. The board will later decide, during the budget vote on May 5, how much of any approved levy increase to adopt into the FY2026 budget.

\"This step is the step to apply for the program,\" Board President Huey said, noting the department will return a determination and the board will take a subsequent vote on the actual tax levy increase.

Chair Craig explained the Buildings, Grounds and Finance committee’s role and the text of the resolution, which cites New Jersey Department of Education guidance dated March 28, 2025, authorizing eligible districts to apply for increased general fund appropriations under the FY2026 State Budget Appropriations Act. The resolution affirms that the district qualifies because its general fund tax levy and total expenditures fall below state‑determined targets and authorizes the School Business Administrator to submit all required documentation and to incorporate any approved increases into the FY2026 budget once granted.

Board members repeated that the application is time‑sensitive. Miss Coleman reported she contacted the NJDOE and was told the incentive is a one‑time infusion and that \"banking\" the cap across multiple years was not an option under current guidance. Several board members requested that the board be included in any future calls between the mayor and state officials to prevent confusion about policy or process.

A roll call vote recorded nine yes votes and three absences (Missus Seltzer, Missus Z, Mister McMillan). The resolution passed.

The board and speakers emphasized that if the NJDOE approves a smaller amount than requested, the board will discuss budget choices and priorities—citing teacher contracts and student‑facing programs as primary targets for funding—before taking the formal budget vote on May 5.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Collingswood Board of Education Meeting: April 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Collingswood Board of Education voted by roll call to submit an application to the New Jersey Department of Education seeking $6,442,543 in increased general fund appropriations for fiscal year 2026, including $6,135,755 to be raised through the local tax levy and $306,788 in anticipated state tax‑levy incentive aid.","taxTitle","Collingswood Public School District, School Districts, New Jersey","taxId",72700,"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},6750042,"Board, teachers and public press for immediate talks after mayor’s reported $225,000 offer",2262,127000,2389000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5359462-4bd9687a867977c8116cd8f49a93891f&start=127&end=2389","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5359462-4bd9687a867977c8116cd8f49a93891f/thumbnail_127000.jpg","/articles/6750042/New-Jersey/Board-teachers-and-public-press-for-immediate-talks-after-mayors-reported-225000-offer","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6750042-13222d4ed6f60f77a3a6ac04b5950c26/orig.mp4?Expires=1770849962&Signature=Nf9GhtSUifOiS7hZE5~iglfvS9ZYvsNfHbKlnUGM2t5vdHj-CfFM8eaftt1MSZve3stqZzMwO0sdKHVQL3-JADfxN1BV5BelZ7LSmpKQTR67V5J8UqFTgXQAkZokUxVp2LuzJOzptIvIM2rdbmxc2lGNzIJb8nbz2KvwhCySzdsgoWnf9PWLrwCVBzBVf7sMfIFeXvgdZAuhi34BdZbrZqA5QAWfe0MJoWuCZqrWHKmP9kGxFPug9olxlnm34ZARY~RP7INVwbdSJTqUmKzj9eQESfJvYt19MNF-PKYPUNayHpY4Zy9HDcMSP4NhBq~4xB7hybNtnpJmaSoZSSaGbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board President Huey told the committee that, while the mayor and others have repeatedly stated publicly that a one‑time $225,000 payment would settle the teachers’ contract, the district’s negotiations committee did not understand that figure to be sufficient to finalize an agreement.

\"We have never been under the impression that the mayor's offer of a single one‑time payment of $225,000 would settle the contract,\" Board President Huey said, recounting March 26 negotiations and an April 3 fact‑finding mediation session.

Huey said that if the mayor’s stated offer combined with the district’s proposal would indeed resolve outstanding matters, \"let's settle it tonight\" and invited negotiators to meet immediately after the special session. Several board members expressed support for that readiness to meet and settle quickly if the parties are in agreement.

Multiple public commenters—many of them teachers and CEA representatives—urged a professional, timely negotiation process and expressed frustration with public discussion of negotiation specifics. Crystal Ward, a resident and teacher, said she was \"flabbergasted\" by public pronouncements that the $225,000 would resolve the contract without clear, prior communication among negotiating parties. Mike Palucci, vice president of the CEA, said negotiations require a draft MOA and closed‑door work: \"This has to be drafted behind closed doors. An MOA has to be signed. This is not the way to do it.\"

CEA negotiators at the meeting urged the board and union leadership to communicate directly and professionally; Danielle Patterson, who identified herself as on the CEA negotiations committee, asked the district to reach out \"in a professional manner\" and offered to negotiate. Several speakers linked rapid settlement to stabilizing staff morale and preserving programs.

Board members and the superintendent repeatedly framed the contract dispute within the district’s broader budget pressure. Huey and others noted recurring, compounding personnel costs and past staffing reductions—citing 11 positions left unfilled and 21 positions reduced in prior years—and emphasized that long‑term recurring compensation commitments could require future staffing cuts if additional, sustainable revenue is not found.

No formal motion or vote on the contract was taken at the meeting. The discussions and public comments concluded before the board moved to its Buildings, Grounds and Finance committee item and eventually voted on the tax‑levy incentive aid application.","Board President Huey and multiple public commenters said the district’s negotiations committee never understood that a one‑time $225,000 payment from the mayor would settle the teachers’ contract; Huey invited negotiators to meet immediately after the meeting if that payment combined with the committee’s offer would resolve outstanding issues.","actionData","errors"]

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Collingswood board votes to apply for $6.44 million in one‑time state tax‑levy incentive aid

Board, teachers and public press for immediate talks after mayor’s reported $225,000 offer