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Morris board outlines referendum timetable and warns budget depends on state aid
Summary
Board finance leaders said state aid timing holds up the final budget, announced a March 9 facilities presentation and a planned referendum vote on Sept. 15, 2026, and discussed aging heating systems and volunteer outreach for the referendum campaign.
Board finance leaders told the Morris School Board that completion of the district’s budget depends on state aid figures that had not been released, delaying finalization until the state’s number is available.
"We actually cannot complete the budget until we get that information from the state," the Finance Committee Chair said, and outlined the remaining timeline: a preliminary budget review at the board’s March 16 meeting, a public hearing in this meeting room on April 27, and advertising the budget pending county approval by April 20. The district plans to post the final budget on the district website after county approval.
The finance report also described transportation challenges: two new 29-passenger buses that were ordered in October 2024 and expected in July 2025 arrived on Feb. 5, 2026, illustrating ongoing supply-chain delays. Staff have implemented winter operational steps including drivers and mechanics starting buses early to reduce route delays.
On facilities, the board described aging heating systems and recent failures at the middle school and an elementary school as part of the rationale for pursuing a bond referendum. The board has submitted prioritized projects to the state to determine the level of state aid that would offset local costs and said the referendum is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 15, 2026. The board announced an informational presentation on facilities and the referendum for March 9 at 7:00 p.m., available in person and by Zoom, and described volunteer outreach (staffed tables, volunteers wearing "ask me about the referendum" buttons and QR-code business cards) starting in March.
Grants and donations were also reported: Morristown on Stage raised more than $20,000 for the Morris Education Foundation; the district will apply for a competitive AP expansion grant of up to $75,000 to train teachers and develop a new AP curriculum; ESEA and IDEA carryover amendments and Perkins reallocation were noted as motions on the agenda.
The Finance Committee Chair said once the state aid and bond-assistance numbers are known (expected in late spring/early summer), the district will formalize a campaign and outline prioritized projects and funding needs.
