Hawthorne board approves 2025-26 budget, raises tax levy to about 4.04%

At a regular meeting, the Hawthorne Public School District Board of Education approved the district's final 2025-26 budget after accepting a state additional-expenditure allocation that raised the district's tax levy to 4.04%. Dr. Frito, a district staff member who presented the budget, said the change will increase the average assessed homeowner's tax by about $14.76 per month (about $177.12 per year) based on the district's stated average assessed home value.

The board's vote followed a presentation that summarized the budget process, revenue and appropriation drivers, and a late March notice from the New Jersey Department of Education that allowed eligible districts to apply for additional expenditure authority and incentive aid. The presenter said the district initially submitted a tentative budget to the county on March 20 and then applied by April 14 for additional expenditures under a state program for districts that are "below local fair share" and deemed to be "spending below adequacy" under state statute. The district requested $734,557 and was approved for $311,007 in additional expenditures plus $15,550 in incentive aid, a total of $326,557, the presenter said; the presenter said that change raised the tax levy calculation to 4.04 percent.

The budget presentation noted revenue and cost drivers that shaped the plan: a net state aid increase of $233,628 from the prior year but still about $651,000 below the 2022-23 state aid level; federal Title and grant funds (presenter estimated about $1.2 million); large cuts to Medicaid reimbursements (presenter said the district's reimbursements fell roughly 85%, consistent with statewide reductions); and projected use of reserves including about $630,000 from capital reserve for summer projects (paving, exterior stair and gym floor repairs, fencing) and $900,000 from maintenance reserve to manage district projects.

On appropriations, the presenter said roughly 35% of costs are associated with general and special education (including out-of-district tuition), noted an increase in out-of-district tuition driven in part by program enrollments (including Passaic County Technical Institute), and reported a significant rise in employee-benefit costs tied to double-digit health insurance increases. The presenter also said the budget maintains a number of academic and extracurricular programs, supports a 1:1 student device initiative for grades 6-12 (and near 1:1 in lower grades with classroom device carts), funds replacement of public-address systems at all five schools (partly covered by a $500,000 federal school-violence-prevention grant), and will install environmental (vape) sensors at the middle and high schools. The presenter thanked interim business administrator Radcliffe Lee and district administrative staff for preparing the budget under a compressed timeline.

A motion to adopt the final budget was made and approved by roll call. The meeting record shows unanimous "yes" votes from board members listed on the roll call (see actions). If the board's budget resolution is filed as approved tonight, the presenter said the levy and the district's stated budget figures will take effect as presented to taxpayers.

Nut graf: Why it matters — The board's action sets the district's spending and tax levy for the 2025-26 school year and reflects a mix of state aid, federal grants, reserve use and cost pressures (health benefits, special-education placements, transportation). The board accepted a limited amount of additional state aid under a short timeline that materially changed the district's levy calculation and the estimated tax impact for the average homeowner.

Discussion and context: Board members and presenters repeatedly stressed that rising health benefits, transportation, and special-education costs are core drivers of the budget pressures; the presenter emphasized the district remains below the state's calculated local fair share and therefore qualified to apply for additional expenditure authority. During discussion, a board member delivered a prepared statement criticizing the state's formulas and short timeframes for the additional-expenditure program, saying the timelines imposed added stress for administrators and board members. The presenter and board also described several cost-offset measures: consortium purchasing agreements, shared services (e.g., garbage, recycling, security), and federal grant reimbursements that will cover portions of capital and safety projects.

Action items and next steps: The board voted to adopt the final budget at the meeting. The presenter said budget documents and the presentation will be posted on the district website. Any items in the budget that require later action (contract awards, capital project scheduling) will proceed through the district's normal procurement and public-notice processes.

Ending: The board completed the budget vote and moved on to other agenda items, including personnel actions and the announced appointment of a new superintendent.