Flemington-Raritan board adopts modified 2025–26 budget after contentious public hearing

The Flemington-Raritan Regional School District Board of Education voted 7–2 to adopt a modified final 2025–26 budget after a public hearing that drew dozens of speakers and split the community.

The board adopted a proposed operating budget that the administration presented as $73,765,753 for 2025–26, up from $70,434,234 in 2024–25, and approved a motion to submit the budget to the New Jersey Department of Education pending state approval. Board President Cirillo made the motion; a second was recorded in the meeting record. The roll call was: Arcey, Bentley, Bruckleitner, Cirillo, Colpis, Owen and Whitley — yes; Cristotello and Birkenstock — no.

The vote followed a 90‑minute public comment period and a staff presentation explaining the district’s fiscal position. Superintendent Dr. Carrie McGahn said the district has “certainly had a challenging year with our budget,” noting rising health-care and utility costs, higher out‑of‑district tuition and statewide staffing shortages. Business administrator Tanya Dawson outlined transparency processes for audits, monthly treasurer reports and the district’s public bills list.

Why it matters: District leaders said the budget is aimed at returning the district to “adequacy” as defined by the New Jersey Department of Education and at stabilizing long‑term finances. Administrators told the board they are approximately $3.7 million under state adequacy and that the district’s local tax levy is materially below what the state calculates as the district’s local fair share. The administration described the modified budget as the vehicle for qualifying for a state tax‑levy incentive program that would add aid if the district increases its tax levy to meet state targets.

What the board and staff said: Dawson said the operating budget submission follows state categories and explained how municipal calendar‑year tax bills blend two school years, producing a tax‑bill impact that is larger than the half‑year figures viewers often see. She showed district figures for average home assessments and said, by example, that a 10% levy increase could translate to roughly $345 on the tax bill shown for one half of the year and about $620 in a blended 12‑month view for an average Raritan Township assessment provided in the presentation.

Dr. McGahn and Dawson described drivers of higher costs: health‑insurance loss ratios above 100 percent, a near‑20 percent increase in some benefits this year, higher transportation and energy costs, rising pension obligations for non‑certified staff and increases in out‑of‑district tuition and contracted services. Dawson also reminded the public that pre‑K special‑education services and transportation are statutorily required for eligible 3‑ and 4‑year‑olds and will continue regardless of pre‑K expansion funding.

Public reaction: Dozens of residents, parents, teachers and at least one student spoke during two public‑comment periods. Supporters urged the board to adopt the higher levy and restore staff and programs cut earlier in the year. First‑grade teacher Kimberly Korleski told the board, “I kindly ask you, our FRSD Board of Education, for your help in voting to increase our school district's budget,” and warned that approved cuts would enlarge class sizes and reduce reading and math supports.

Opponents pointed to the recent failed public referendum and to process concerns. Kristen Stryker, who identified herself as a parent and taxpayer, said she was “strongly opposed to your petition to exceed the tax cap for the 2025–26 school year,” and criticized the administration for asking the community for a 6% increase earlier and now seeking a higher levy. Several speakers said the district had promised that a prior, smaller increase would preserve positions and programs, and asked why more positions would not be restored if the larger levy were approved.

Teachers and parents highlighted programmatic impacts. Multiple speakers urged the board to protect gifted‑and‑talented and reading/math support programs and to restore teaching assistants and other special supports they said are critical to student learning. A special‑education teacher said a family moved away because they believed the district could not meet their child’s needs, and warned that insufficient funding could harm property values and long‑term program quality.

Board discussion and context: Board members described the decision as difficult and politically fraught. One board member said the board had been “put into pretty much an impossible situation,” noting state funding rules and last‑minute changes that complicate local planning. Several board members said they plan to continue pressing state officials for funding‑formula reform; one announced plans to attend New Jersey Department of Education meetings in Trenton.

How the budget will take effect: The board’s adoption is explicit that the final budget is submitted to the county and the state for approval. The motion recorded an amendment inserting the phrase “pending NJ DOE approval,” and the superintendent and business administrator said the county office had accepted a budget without federal Title and IDEA appropriations, which the district will adjust later if the final federal allocations differ from current estimates.

What wasn’t decided or remains uncertain: The budget vote does not itself restore all positions that were cut earlier this year; staff and administrators said only a portion of previously eliminated positions may be reinstated and that some restorations depend on final state aid. The final tax impact on individual homeowners also depends on municipal ratables and next year’s levy; the administration warned that calendar‑year tax bills blend two school years and so can show a larger effective increase for taxpayers in the year after a levy increase.

The board’s approval sets the district on a path to seek the state incentive aid and to rebuild reserves over a multi‑year fiscal plan administrators said they are developing. Any funding from the state is subject to NJDOE approval and the district’s ability to meet the program’s conditions.