Vernon board approves 2025–26 budget, seeks state OK for extra tax levy

The Vernon Township Board of Education on May 1 approved a $74 million 202526ndash;26 operating budget and voted to submit an application to the New Jersey Department of Education for additional tax authority tied to a state incentive program.

The budget as adopted includes the 2% tax-levy increase allowed under current law and adds a separate request for roughly $1.2 million in additional levy authority and related incentive aid from the state. The board's vote to adopt the budget and seek the extra authority passed 7-2: Brock, Smaglia, Contino, Krauss, Pellet, Sweeney and Zimmerman voted yes; Fisher and Vaccarello voted no. The board described the resolution as approval of the district's 202526ndash;26 budget, pending final approval of the district's application by the New Jersey Department of Education.

Why it matters: the application is the district's response to changes in state aid formulas and rising costs. Board and staff said the extra authority would fund a set of one-time facility and safety projects and give the district more flexibility heading into the 202627 budget process.

Business Administrator (presenter) reviewed the budget at length, describing the plan as "a financial expression of the district's needs and priorities" and walking the board and public through revenues, reserves and capital projects. He said the operating budget relies on a tax levy that is roughly 68.8% of total revenue and that state aid for Vernon remains substantially lower than in past years after the S-2 funding changes; the district has lost millions of dollars of state aid over time but has recovered some funds recently, he said. He told the board the district's…