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District files budget with higher levy while state review of tax-incentive aid continues; DOE advises hold on obligating funds
Summary
Flemington-Raritan submitted its budget using an increased tax-levy incentive amount after verbal county approval, but the New Jersey Department of Education has told districts to hold off obligating any incentive funds until formal approval is issued.
The Flemington-Raritan Regional School District submitted its budget using an increased tax-levy incentive amount based on guidance from the county office, but district officials said the New Jersey Department of Education has not yet issued formal written approval and advised districts not to obligate incentive funds.
A speaker at the meeting said the Department of Education permitted the district to file the budget as previously approved by the board, but that the DOE told districts awarded or pending tax-levy incentive aid not to issue contracts or obligate funds while the department completes its review. The district reported the county office had provided verbal guidance to proceed with submission but that a formal DOE letter approving the incentive had not been received.
District leaders said the timing complicates hiring and contracting decisions; the superintendent described the situation as putting the district in a difficult position because budgetary decisions often must be made now. The superintendent said she and county officials have been advocating in Trenton on the timeline issues and noted that the Commissioner of Education had recently discussed the tax-levy incentive program and said roughly 150–180 districts had applied or qualified, according to the superintendent’s recounting.
District officials said they continue to follow county-office and Department of Education guidance and will update board members as formal approvals arrive.
