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Lodi board sets March 5 tentative budget vote while awaiting state aid figures that could cut about $1.2 million
Summary
The Lodi Board of Education scheduled a special meeting March 5 to vote on a tentative 2025–26 budget and must submit the document to the executive county superintendent by March 7. District officials warned that Department of Education guidance allows up to a 3% reduction in state aid — roughly $1.2 million for Lodi — until final figures arrive.
The Lodi Board of Education scheduled a special meeting for 7 p.m. on March 5 to act on the district’s tentative 2025–26 budget and said it must submit the package to the executive county superintendent by 4 p.m. on March 7.
Board and district leaders told members the timetable is compressed because the New Jersey Department of Education will release state aid figures the day before. District staff warned the board that the department’s guidance allows for potential reductions in state aid up to 3 percent, which the administrators estimated would be about $1,200,000 for the district if that scenario materializes.
The schedule calls for a public budget hearing on March 26 at 7 p.m. At the meeting the board will vote on a tentative budget and then, after the public hearing, finalize revenues, appropriations and any changes necessary based on final state aid figures.
Board members pressed district leadership for earlier access to budget documents so trustees could review expenditures and ask questions ahead of the March 5 vote. “There should be something for the board members to at least review,” said Board Member Mastro Filippo during the meeting, who urged that expenditure information be provided before the vote.
Superintendent D'Amico confirmed the district is prepared to release appropriations as soon as state aid figures arrive and said both he and district staff will distribute documents to the full board. The administration said it has already reviewed high-level budget details with the finance committee.
Officials emphasized that any adjustments needed because of changes in state aid could require cuts before final adoption but said they did not expect the maximum 3 percent reduction. The board reiterated the plan: act on the tentative budget March 5, submit it by March 7, and hold a public hearing March 26.
The board asked that staff make the tentative budget and related documents available to trustees as soon as possible so members can review them before the March 5 meeting.
