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Montville board reviews tentative 2026–27 budget as costs outpace revenue growth
Summary
Administrators told the board that rising costs — including salaries, health benefits, transportation and special education — are narrowing budget flexibility; the tentative 2026–27 budget will be submitted to the county and a public hearing is scheduled for April 21.
Boilerplate: At the March 17 meeting, Montville Township School District administrators presented a tentative budget for the 2026–27 school year to the Board of Education and outlined next steps, including submission to the county office for review and a public hearing on April 21.
The administration said enrollment has risen due to new local construction and that revenue growth is constrained by a statutory 2% cap; waivers may be applied when expenditures (for example, health insurance) increase faster than 2% and the district can match the expenditure. The presenter said the board has historically used allowable waivers and that the statutory cap coupled with accelerating cost growth is creating a “pinch point.”
Administrators provided several long-term cost figures, stating that since 2010 through the 2026–27 budget horizon salaries have risen by roughly 55%, health benefits by 60%, transportation costs by 90%, and special-education expenses by 222%. The administration said it has sought savings through efficiencies, including adding a small bus fleet for some special-education runs and expanding in-house special-education programs to reduce more expensive out-of-district placements.
“We will be continuing a lot of programs,” the presenter said, noting that no major new programs would be added in 2026–27 as part of cost-control efforts. The presenter summarized the budget as an overview and said the board will receive more detailed information following the county’s review and at the public budget hearing.
Board members thanked the administration for the work on the budget and asked operational questions, including whether special-education buses would have cameras and GPS. The administration said those devices were not budgeted in 2026–27 but funds will be dedicated as the system is finalized so the vehicles used in summer programs will already have the equipment in place.
The board moved and approved consent resolutions during the meeting (roll-call vote) and scheduled the public hearing for the tentative budget on April 21. No final budget adoption occurred at the March 17 meeting; the presentation was informational and procedural next steps were announced.
