Roxbury superintendent says district faces multimillion-dollar gap; tentative budget approved for county review
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Summary
Superintendent Dr. Santora told the Roxbury Township School District board the budget process began with a roughly $7 million shortfall driven by contract, benefits and special-education costs; the board approved the tentative budget and scheduled a public hearing for April 28.
Dr. Santora, Roxbury Township School District superintendent, told the board on March 17 that the district began the 2025–26 budget process “with a $7,000,000 deficit” and has taken steps to present a balanced tentative budget for the board to approve and submit to the county business administrator.
The superintendent said contractually required staff salary increases, a 15% jump in health benefits and higher special-education costs were the principal drivers of the shortfall. “Our staff increases are costing us for next year about $1,600,000,” he said, and he said the district expects roughly $2,200,000 in additional health-benefit costs. He also attributed about $1,600,000 in new costs to six students who entered the district and required out-of-district special-education placements.
The budget discussion was the centerpiece of the finance and facilities report. Dr. Santora said the district did not receive about $836,000 in state Stabilization Aid that it had received the prior year and added that the district had absorbed other increases, including a roughly $200,000 rise in property and liability insurance. He told the board the district is “in the red” by roughly $417,000 and that administrators had worked to adjust line items and identify offsets to present a tentative, balanced budget to the board.
Board members voted to approve the tentative budget and related finance resolutions (finance resolutions 1–24) during the meeting. Carol (board member) moved the finance resolutions and Sharon seconded; the roll call vote recorded unanimous approval from voting members present. Several board members announced recusals on specific purchase orders and bid items during the finance discussion; details of those recusals were read into the record.
Dr. Santora said the tentative budget will be submitted to the county business administrator for review, and a public budget hearing is scheduled for April 28, 2025. The superintendent encouraged public participation and noted additional budget work sessions and a final adoption timeline to follow county review.
Clarifying details discussed in the meeting included staff-related contractual increases, an estimated 15% increase in health-benefit costs, six new out-of-district special-education placements, and the absence of the prior year’s Stabilization Aid of about $836,000.
The board approved the tentative budget to meet statutory timelines; the next formal step is the April 28 public hearing, after which the board may adopt a final budget following any revisions required by the county business administrator.
