Cliffside Park board approves roughly $72 million 2025–26 budget; levy up 3.51% but within state cap

At its March 19, 2025 meeting, the Cliffside Park Board of Education approved a final 2025–26 budget of approximately $72,000,000, Board members said, including a local tax levy of about $40,950,000 — a 3.51% year-over-year increase the board said remains within New Jersey’s 2% cap after allowable adjustments for health-care and enrollment costs.

Business Administrator Lou Alfano, who presented the plan, said roughly $69,000,000 of the total is the general fund and about $3,000,000 comes from federal and state grants. "The 2025, 2026 budget, which will commence 07/01/2025 and then 06/30/2026 ... the overall budget is approximately $72,000,000," Alfano told the board during the presentation.

The budget includes a $4,000,000 capital reserve the district intends to use for facilities work, including a possible multipurpose-room renovation at School 6 and HVAC upgrades at Schools 3 and 4. Alfano cautioned that the district will follow procurement and bidding rules and that actual project scopes will depend on the bids: "That $4,000,000 capital improvement project is privy of the procurement and bidding process," he said, adding that if the multipurpose room "comes in at 2.2" million, that could limit funds available for other projects.

Why it matters: Board officials emphasized the budget balances tax impacts with rising costs for employee health benefits and special education. Alfano said benefits and prescription costs have driven a near $2,000,000 increase year over year and that the district used about $1,000,000 of surplus to help offset those increases.

Revenue and cost drivers: Alfano told the board transportation revenues — from transporting students from other districts — bring in about $8,800,000 annually. Tuition payments from the sending district Fairview rose because of higher certified rates and projected additional students, producing roughly $600,000 in added tuition revenue year over year. State aid was up by about $500,000, while a separate Medicaid aid line fell about $200,000, for a net increase in aid of roughly $300,000. Alfano also noted gains tied to preschool expansion grant money (PEA) and that federal grants such as IDEA and Title I total roughly $2,000,000.

Tax impact and state cap: Alfano and other board members explained how the levy change translates to homeowners: using an average assessed home value of about $400,000, the projected tax increase is approximately $100 annually; for an $800,000 assessed home it would be about $200. Board members said the district stayed within the state's 2% cap because the state allows adjustments for health-care and enrollment costs, which together accounted for about 1.5 percentage points of the levy increase.

Other budget and operational items: The budget also funds personnel additions the board discussed during the meeting, including dedicated school counselors for each elementary school and an additional autistic-specialist teacher and guidance staff positions. Alfano said the district plans to buy two 54-passenger buses and to renew its bus fleet; the board also approved purchasing 400 Chromebooks, including licensing, from Dell Technologies at roughly $300 per device (total about $123,000), and renewing a food-service contract (see votes below).

Board procedure and procurement: Alfano and other officials said the district will complete a physical-needs assessment mandated by state education rules to inform larger facility work and possible referendum planning. The board said it interviewed additional architecture firms and expects to select an engineer of record after a procurement process, with the firm to perform summer inspections and prepare options and cost estimates.

Votes at a glance: The board approved the consent agenda by roll call, which the board said included the final budget (resolution 41), the food-service contract renewal (resolution 42), and the purchase of 400 Chromebooks from Dell Technologies (resolution 44). Roll-call responses recorded during the vote were: Missus Abreu — yes; Mr. Capano — yes; Mr. Garcia — yes; Mr. Negru — yes; Dr. Pantoliano — yes; Mr. Rancourt — yes. The motion to approve the evening's agenda and consent items was made by Mr. Capano and carried on the roll call.

What remains: Board members and staff said the preschool expansion funded in part by new grant dollars is planned but that the district has not finalized classroom locations. Administrators said modular classrooms face space or waiver limits after 2026 and that the district is exploring options, including offsite space or reconfigurations identified in the upcoming physical-needs assessment.

Ending: Board leaders said they will submit the approved final budget to county and state officials as required and continue design and procurement work this spring and summer to prepare for the 2025–26 school year.