Middlesex County School Board approves needs-based budget and proposes pay steps for staff
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Summary
The board approved a needs-based budget to submit to the county, proposing a teacher pay increase of 'step plus 4%' and 'step plus 3%' for other staff; the plan includes capital requests for buses, rooftop units and technology investments.
The Middlesex County School Board voted to approve a needs-based budget for 2026–27 to submit to the Board of Supervisors, the board learned after a presentation from Superintendent Dr. Seitz.
Dr. Seitz said the budget figures are the same as those presented at the division's public hearing and reflected recent insurance and inflationary cost increases. "For teachers a step plus 4% and all other staff a step plus 3%" are included in the proposal, she said. The superintendent told the board the budget absorbs about a 13% insurance renewal increase so staff pay would not be reduced by that change.
The budget keeps the division’s capital priorities, including a bus-replacement cycle that funds two diesel buses, rooftop-unit work at the high school and technology infrastructure moved into the capital improvement plan. Dr. Seitz described one-time purchases (including a weapons-detection item) shifted to CIP when possible and said the total local ask for operations and debt service is "just over $14,000,000." She also said three positions have been eliminated since the last presentation; the reduction included one general-education position at the elementary level tied to a smaller kindergarten cohort.
Board members asked clarifying questions about the eliminated position and the composition of state, federal and local revenue. After discussion a motion to approve the budget was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.
Votes at a glance - Motion to approve the 2026–27 needs-based budget for submission to the Board of Supervisors: approved by voice vote (motion and second on the record; roll-call tally not recorded in the transcript). - Motion to list four buses as surplus for sale/bid: approved by voice vote (see separate agenda item). - Consent agenda (including matters discussed in closed session): approved by voice vote.
What happens next The approved budget will be submitted to the Board of Supervisors by the April 1 deadline required of the division. The board and administration will continue to track county budget adjustments and the state budget process as the division refines funding expectations.