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Watchung Hills holds final public budget hearing; district to use reserves for critical capital work
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Jewett and finance staff presented the final budget at the district's public hearing, outlining reserve-funded capital repairs, modest staffing reductions, elimination of some late buses and a tax levy rise tied to waivers and health-care costs.
Dr. Jewett, superintendent of the Watchung Hills Regional High School District, and Tim Stice, a district budget presenter, gave the final public presentation on the district's budget during the formal budget hearing, outlining capital repairs, staffing adjustments and revenue assumptions.
The board heard that the district will use reserves to fund urgent capital and maintenance work rather than increase the tax burden. Dr. Jewett and Stice said administrators prioritized projects they described as critical while holding recurring operating increases to a modest level.
The public hearing was the final budget presentation after several months of development that began late last year. "It's a good thing that we had the money there to do this, because it was critical to do that," Stice said, explaining why the district would use surplus funds for capital and maintenance items rather than raise taxes further.
District officials listed near-term capital and maintenance priorities that include…
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