Montville Board approves tentative 2025–26 budget, sends plan to county; adopts consent agenda

The Montville Township Board of Education on March 11 approved a tentative 2025–26 budget and a consent agenda covering personnel, retirements and other routine items, sending the budget to the county office for review.

Board members and district officials said the budget presented a balanced plan — revenues equal expenditures — made possible by a state aid increase and a statutory waiver tied to rising enrollment. “The state increased our aid by a little more than $300,000 and allowed for us to apply for a waiver … for increased enrollment,” said Mrs. Slunt, of the district business office, explaining how those factors helped the numbers balance. She said the district also plans to use reserves for summer capital work.

The budget includes capital and maintenance funding for this summer’s projects, including four remaining vestibule upgrades (the district began with three), HVAC and boiler repairs, and hallway painting and lighting. The district will also use reserves for the work, Mrs. Slunt said. The board placed a public hearing on the tentative budget for April 29.

Administrators noted one budgetary relief this year came from changing health providers. Mrs. Slunt said the district moved to a private provider, Horizon, which reduced the projected increase in health benefits from about 20% to roughly 5%. She added the Horizon arrangement includes an 18‑month rate lock that began in January, but cautioned the district will again face open rating periods after the lock expires: “At which point then it opens back up and yes, it is possible that we will have an increase that will be much more than 5%,” she said.

Board members asked about other cost pressures. Mrs. Slunt and Dr. Gorman, the superintendent, identified benefits and transportation as continuing strain points. “Benefits is definitely one of the biggest ones because we have no ability to control what those rates come in at,” Mrs. Slunt said. Transportation costs also continue to rise, she said, especially given recent enrollment growth and new program needs.

Board members discussed proposed staffing changes that appear in the agenda — for example, an elementary half‑time music position that could be reconfigured so Lazar Middle School has a full‑time music teacher and the district hires a new half‑time elementary teacher. The personnel section of the consent agenda also included two retirements: Joanna Machete, after about 13½ years with the district, and Chuck Fisher, a roughly 24‑year district special‑education teacher and longtime high‑school coach.

The board approved the consent items (agenda items I–N), including the tentative budget, by voice and roll call. The meeting record shows trustees moved and seconded the consent agenda; the board then conducted a roll‑call vote and the motion carried. Those present voting yes included Mr. Daughtry, Mr. Rappaport, Dr. Cortellino, Mrs. Fano, Mr. Palma, Mr. Petruzzino, Mrs. Smith and Dr. Modrak. The minutes record that several trustees noted an abstention on the minutes item (section I) while still supporting the broader consent motion; the broader consent motion passed.

The district will submit the tentative budget to the county office for review the next day and present the full budget at the April 29 public hearing before final adoption.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: Approve consent agenda items I–N, including the tentative 2025–26 budget and personnel items. Motion moved and seconded (movers not specified on the record). Outcome: approved. Roll‑call votes recorded as yes from: Mr. Daughtry; Mr. Rappaport; Dr. Cortellino; Mrs. Fano; Mr. Palma; Mr. Petruzzino; Mrs. Smith; Dr. Modrak. Several trustees recorded an abstention limited to the minutes (section I) while voting for the consent motion.

Why it matters

District leaders said the combination of a modest state‑aid increase and a statutory waiver tied to increased enrollment allowed a balanced tentative budget without immediate staff or program cuts. Board members warned that savings from a short‑term health‑insurance rate lock and one‑time reserves may not be sustainable and asked administrators to continue seeking cost‑containment and shared‑service options.

Looking ahead

The budget goes next to the Morris County office for review. The board will hold a public hearing and final adoption vote on April 29.