Candidates at the Moorestown Board of Education forum raised concerns about how municipal pilot agreements for new developments could affect school funding and called for negotiation and clarity from township officials.

Danielle Miller, a current board member, highlighted the district’s constrained budget process and noted that while the capital referendum covers certain facility costs, operating costs associated with new students will not be automatically covered. “There’s a difference between operating cost and capital cost,” Miller said, adding that projected growth over the next five years “is projected to be 250 to 300, new students” and that the district is limited by the 2% tax levy cap.

Claudine Marano said the district has asked the township for details on signed pilot agreements, timing and anticipated revenue so it can properly plan. She warned that “having hundreds of students come in at once is an incredible financial burden on the district,” and urged the township to negotiate with the board.

Multiple candidates summarized how New Jersey’s pilot arrangements typically route revenue: as noted during the forum, candidates said state practice directs most pilot revenue to municipalities, with a smaller share to county government; none of that distribution automatically allocates funds to schools. Danielle Miller said she would support a board resolution asking the township to share pilot revenue “in the same proportion as tax revenue among the entities supported through our property taxes.” Katie Berman said she had met with Mayor Law to better understand pilot timing and payments and emphasized collaboration.

Candidates said they will press for clear, written agreements and a collaborative process with the township; the forum itself contained candidate positions and did not produce any formal district motion or agreement.