Montgomery board approves tentative 2025–26 budget submission after debate over health-benefit waiver

The Montgomery Township Board of Education voted March 18 to submit its tentative 2025–26 budget to the county superintendent after a presentation from Business Administrator Andrew Italiano and discussion among board members, district staff and union leaders. The board’s action authorizes filing the preliminary budget required by statute; the budget can be amended before the final public hearing and adoption on April 29.

Business Administrator Andrew Italiano and Superintendent Mary McLaughlin presented a preliminary budget built around a 2 percent tax levy increase. Italiano said the district’s current tax levy is $89,042,150 and the board-supported 2 percent increase equals $1,780,843, producing a tentative levy of about $90,822,993. Italiano said the district could have a higher legal maximum levy under certain adjustments but that the administration formulated the budget around the 2 percent figure the board supported.

The presentation laid out major drivers and offsets: state aid fell about 3 percent (a reduction Italiano estimated at…