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Neptune Township budget presentation prompts residents to demand 0% tax increase and school consolidations
Summary
After a midyear budget review showing multi-year state aid declines and rising costs, residents urged the Neptune Township Board of Education to hold the tax increase to 0%, produce dollar-value savings from prior cuts, and present a facility-consolidation plan before the April hearing.
The Neptune Township Board of Education heard a detailed budget update from Business Administrator Mr. Caravello and more than an hour of public comment focused on taxes, district staffing and underused school buildings.
Caravello told the board that changes to the state funding formula since 2018 have driven multi-year reductions in district state aid and described a series of one-time stabilization payments that temporarily offset some losses. He said the district is building the 2026–27 budget assuming flat state aid and that the district faces limited revenue options beyond the 2% statutory local tax levy. He highlighted cost drivers including salaries and benefits, which he said represent roughly 78% of the proposed $93 million budget, and estimated a $3.8 million increase in health-benefit…
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