Garfield board adopts 2025–26 budget, raises tax levy 4.5% to add 20 teachers for Title 6A compliance

The Garfield Public School District Board of Education voted to adopt the 2025–26 tentative budget on March 24, approving a 4.5% increase in the district tax levy after the state awarded roughly $4.6 million in additional aid.

Superintendent Dr. Tomko presented the budget and said the district will add 20 new instructional positions to correct longstanding class-size and certification shortfalls under New Jersey Department of Education rules in Title 6A. "We're going to add 20 new instructional positions ... to the district so that we stay in compliance," he told the board.

Why it matters: The funding move is intended to bring Garfield into compliance with class-size and program requirements for former SDA (Abbott) districts. Dr. Tomko said the district has likely been out of compliance for about 15 years and that hiring will reduce individual classroom enrollments and relieve pressure on teachers.

Key facts and figures: The superintendent said the district’s preliminary tax impact had been 5.5% but that staff and the board trimmed line items to lower the levy to 4.5%. The board’s presentation lists the district’s average assessed home value at $285,000 and a monthly tax impact of about $18.50 for that average home. Dr. Tomko attributed most of the $4.6 million increase in state aid to contractual obligations and rising benefits costs: roughly $2.1 million for salaries and $2.2 million for health-care costs. He also outlined additional budget pressures including charter-school tuition and unpredictable special-education tuition demand.

What the board approved: Board member Mister Focarino moved the motion to adopt the budget; Mister Maleo seconded. On a roll call vote the motion passed, with the minutes recording votes in favor from several board members and at least one recorded dissent. The superintendent said the budget will enable hiring, program expansion in areas such as CTE and JROTC, and planned infrastructure work that the Schools Development Authority and cooperative purchasing will help fund.

Public response at the meeting focused on affordability and transparency. Several residents said they appreciated the goal of smaller classes but questioned noninstructional costs and asked for clearer line-item explanations. Arlene Patiri, a resident, asked whether the district was "top heavy" with nonteaching stipends; Alexandra Zampekala pressed the board on charter-school spending; Mayor Everett Garnto Jr. asked why some expense increases were not budgeted earlier.

Implementation and next steps: The superintendent said hiring is already in motion — the budget includes openings for kindergarten teachers, preschool teachers, chemistry instructors, LDTCs, social workers and behaviorists — and that the district will begin summer recruitment and use a five‑year lease plan to spread IT infrastructure costs. He also said Garfield remains, by the state's calculation, millions under an adequacy figure the state uses to measure funding gaps — a projection he said makes long-term budgeting uncertain.

Votes at a glance: - 2025–26 tentative budget (agenda item 5.1): motion by Mister Focarino, seconded by Mister Maleo; roll call vote recorded as approved on March 24. (Full roll-call names and each recorded vote are in the meeting minutes.)

The board president closed the meeting after committee reports and other agenda business; the superintendent said the administration will post budget line-item details and rationales to the district website and answer written public questions submitted after the meeting.

Speakers quoted in this story spoke during the Garfield Public School District meeting on March 24, 2025.