Cherry Hill board adopts tentative 2026–27 budget, plans ~72 FTE reductions and a 7.4% general‑fund levy increase
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Summary
The Cherry Hill Board of Education voted to adopt a tentative 2026–27 budget that proposes roughly $259.5 million in general‑fund appropriations, a proposed $14.8 million (≈7.4%) increase to the general‑fund tax levy, about $8 million in non‑personnel reductions and approximately 72 full‑time equivalent personnel reductions; the budget will now go to the county superintendent for technical review.
The Cherry Hill Board of Education on March 24 adopted the district’s tentative 2026–27 budget, advancing a spending plan that administrators say is necessary to close a structural deficit driven by rising employee health‑benefit costs, transportation and special‑education expense.
Business administrator Mr. Shimpf told the board the district’s general‑fund appropriations total about $259.5 million and that the administration proposes a $14.8 million increase to the general‑fund tax levy — roughly a 7.4% rise — to be submitted for technical review by the executive county superintendent. The administration reported an approximate $12 million increase in employee health‑benefit costs (medical premiums up about 26% and prescription costs about 31%), a modest decrease in state aid (capped at 3% this year), and a $9.3 million drop in unassigned fund balance compared with prior years.
To close the gap, the administration said it identified about $8 million in non‑personnel operational reductions after a 0‑based review of roughly 3,200 budget lines. Additional savings would require personnel actions: the proposal includes approximately $6.5 million in personnel reductions, estimated at about 72 full‑time equivalent positions districtwide. Administration said many of those reductions will be absorbed through vacancies and attrition but acknowledged that some positions may be eliminated.
Board President Gina Winters said passing the tentative budget was legally required so the district can meet the county submission deadline; she and other members framed the vote as a painful but necessary step to begin closing a large structural gap. The board approved the motion (seconded by Mr. Greenbaum) by roll call; the motion carried.
The superintendent, Dr. Morton, told speakers the district will continue to pursue available operational savings and that specifics about which positions might be affected are not appropriate to discuss publicly because of personnel privacy concerns. He said the board and administration will continue public engagement, with a public hearing and final adoption scheduled for April 28.
What happens next: By statute the tentative budget is submitted for technical review; the administration expects feedback from the state within about 7–10 days and will return to the board for a public hearing and a final vote in April.
"We are in a dire situation," Winters later told the Assembly budget committee in a prepared statement read into the record at the meeting, urging lawmakers to fix the state funding formula that she said has shifted an outsized share of school funding onto local taxpayers.
