New Brunswick board adopts $306.7 million 2026–27 budget; $96 annual tax increase per household

The New Brunswick Board of Education on March 26 approved a $306,673,027 preliminary budget for the 2026–27 school year, board officials said, marking a roughly $4.3 million (1.43%) increase from the prior year and an estimated $96 annual tax increase per household.

Ms. Doreny of Villalba, who delivered the budget presentation, said the revenue package includes nearly $211 million in awarded state aid, about $20.2 million in early-childhood and special-education transfers, roughly $19.6 million from the budgeted fund balance and a tax levy of about $39.9 million. "The preliminary budget for the 2026–27 school year totals $306,673,027," she said.

The board's projected appropriations place the largest share of spending on personnel: salaries of about $133 million and employee benefits near $71 million, which together represent roughly 72% of budgeted costs. The presentation listed increases in medical benefits and several programmatic cost changes, including a substantial rise in charter-school tuition and out-of-district tuition. The budget also funds about 22 new positions to expand the district's program for autistic students, the presenter said.

Capital investments cited in the presentation include HVAC replacements at McKinley Community School, security upgrades across district locations, a remodel of the William L. Dunbar Media Center at New Brunswick High School and phase 2 of the high-school athletic fields project. District staff described these as efforts to support "safer, more efficient, and high-quality learning environments." The presentation also referenced a planned withdrawal from capital reserve of about $4.7 million.

During the public hearing, resident Charlie Bradwell asked how much the district was budgeting for potential judgments and settlements. The district acknowledged an increase to that budget line. "We did increase that budget line by $900,000," the presenter said, and district staff noted several outstanding cases and questions about Joint Insurance Fund (JIF) funding that informed the cautious budgeting.

The board moved and seconded the budget resolution and the roll-call vote approved the measure. The board closed the public hearing following the vote.

The budget will proceed through the district's adoption process as required by state law; board members and staff said the plan emphasizes maintaining core instructional programs while reallocating some resources and leveraging grants to sustain services.

The board also approved related consent-agenda items and recorded motions earlier in the meeting, and scheduled its next regular meeting for April 21, 2026, at New Brunswick High School.