North Hunterdon-Voorhees board backs administration's 4.48% tax-levy recommendation amid rising health-care costs

The North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District's administration recommended a proposed FY2026-27 tax levy increase of 4.48% at a March 17 work session, citing a large rise in employee health-care costs and other unavoidable expenditures.

Chief School Administrator Dr. Burgess told the board the district's healthcare costs had increased by about $1,600,000 this year, which he described as the principal driver pushing the levy above the 2% cap. "Our healthcare costs increased by $1,600,000," Dr. Burgess said, explaining why the administration was asking the board to advertise a levy above the typical 2% threshold.

The finance presentation, led by the district fiscal lead (Miss Blue), showed a final revenue projection that yields a recommended tax levy of 58.845909, a 4.48% increase. Miss Blue summarized the revenue side, noting a modest $17,000 increase in state aid and explaining assumptions for tuition, interest and extraordinary aid related to special-education placements.

Why it matters: Administration said the board's recommended cuts already remove about $1.5 million from the draft budget to reach the 4.48% figure; deeper reductions to reach a 2% levy would require eliminating or curtailing large-ticket services that administrators warned would harm students.

Board members pressed for options. Several members asked whether specific line items could be clarified or trimmed and requested more mid-range levy options rather than only the "doomsday" 2% scenario and the administration's 4.48% recommendation. Dr. Burgess responded that the administration had already identified the $1.5 million of cuts that were "guaranteed" and had a separate list of larger, discretionary reductions for a hypothetical 2% scenario.

The largest single categories the administration flagged as candidates for deeper cuts included athletics (coaching, transportation and facility maintenance) and contracted mental-health clinicians. Board members debated pay-to-play athletics fees and whether charging families would create participation barriers; they heard administration's assessment that a pay-to-play policy would include low-income waivers and other protections but could reduce participation.

Mental-health services drew particular attention. Administration said the district currently contracts with clinical social workers and licensed counselors through an outside provider; those clinicians also perform immediate triage and return-to-class clearances that reduce emergency-room referrals. The administration warned that cutting four contracted clinicians would be a large savings line but said it would reduce on-site mental-health capacity for students.

Board response and next steps: During a final "gut check," a majority of board members expressed support for the administration's recommendation to present a budget that would advertise the 4.48% levy next week while urging staff to continue seeking further, targeted trims that do not undermine classroom supports or core safety services. Several members explicitly said they would not support slashing mental-health services or security staff to reach a lower levy.

Chair closed the discussion by asking staff to present the final documents to the county next week for review and for the board to consider formal adoption at the regular meeting. Administration said it needs a clear levy direction immediately so it can finish the budget software entries and submit materials to the county on schedule.

Funding and timing details: Administration said the district would continue to pursue grants and shared-service opportunities as part of longer-term mitigation (including a School Regionalization Efficiency Program grant the district filed). The regionalization study, if funded and approved, would take nine to 12 months to complete and require additional time to implement any structural changes.

The board did not take a final vote on the advertised budget at the work session; members signaled majority support to advance a 4.48% levy for public advertisement pending any minor trims administration can responsibly find before final submission next week.