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Vernon leaders warn of a tight budget after 25% health‑benefit jump and delayed state aid
Summary
Superintendent and business administrator told the board Feb. 19 that a 25% jump in health benefits and a delayed state aid notice (expected March 12) compress the budget calendar; the district plans reallocation, professional development funding, and contingency lists and will present a preliminary budget March 19.
Vernon Township Board of Education — Feb. 19, 2026 — District leaders told trustees that the 2026–27 budget will be constrained by rising fixed costs and an unpredictable state aid figure, requiring careful trade‑offs ahead of a compressed calendar.
Superintendent Ebony DeMendez and Business Administrator Ray Slam briefed the board on a new budget webpage (calendar, FAQs and user‑friendly budget documents) and flagged several pressure points: a health‑insurance renewal that increased benefits roughly 25 percent, transportation contract inflation, salary‑negotiation pressures and an expected state aid notification that was delayed to March 12. "Seventy‑four percent of the budget in 25/26 went to essentially salaries and health benefits," Slam…
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