Freehold Township board reviews draft $89 million budget citing health care and energy cost spikes

Freehold Township School District officials reviewed a draft $89 million 2025-26 budget at the board's regular meeting, with School Business Administrator Robert Devita telling trustees that rising health-care and energy costs have driven the district's projected tax impact.

Devita said the district currently projects total budget appropriations near $89,000,000 for 2025-26 and a fund balance of about $1.9 million. He said a projected 10% increase in health-care costs and large increases in energy — roughly 25% for electricity and about 9% for natural gas — have consumed much of the district's allowable 2% tax levy increase and pushed the draft levy higher.

The draft shows the general fund and debt-service fund together producing a year-over-year levy change Devita described as "about a 4.3% increase" for the district portion; he said the calculation also reflects a projected increase in assessed value in the tax base that reduces the per-household share. Devita cautioned that some figures remain estimates and that the state aid numbers had not been finalized at the time of the presentation.

Why it matters: The board must adopt a tentative budget before it publishes final…