Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Superintendent says borough partnership aims to close $8.7 million state funding gap
Summary
Superintendent Dr. McDowell told the board the district faces an $8.7 million state funding gap for 2025–26 and described a stopgap partnership with the borough — including borough contribution, joint advisory work, tax-cap flexibility, shared facility use, and bonding — to avoid deep program and staffing cuts.
Superintendent Dr. McDowell told the Collingswood Board of Education that the district is facing an $8,700,000 state funding gap for the 2025–26 school year and a projected $3.6 million operating deficit if current staffing and programs are maintained. He presented a multi-part partnership with the borough that officials say is intended as a stopgap to prevent drastic reductions.
The plan, McDowell said, includes a borough contribution to deficit coverage, a joint budget review and advisory work for long-term facilities and equity planning, use of tax-cap flexibility, shared recreational-facility usage to generate funds, and potential bonding to release capital funds to support operations. He said the partners hope these measures, plus a future referendum for sustainable funding after 2025–26, will avoid immediate reductions to programming and staffing.
McDowell said the plan had been refined over the weekend and that district and borough staff are still negotiating details to ensure funding is received and the deficit is closed. He offered to continue updating the public on progress and transparency as the work continues.
The superintendent also noted the district has previously removed nearly $5 million from the budget over the past three years. He framed the borough partnership as an effort to align municipal and district goals while prioritizing tax-neutral and cost-saving measures.
No formal vote on the partnership was recorded at the meeting; McDowell said the board and borough are actively working through implementation details.
