Hackensack council approves $6.5 million emergency transfer to city school district to avert midyear layoffs

The Hackensack City Council voted unanimously Jan. 28 to authorize a one-time $6,500,000 transfer to the Hackensack Board of Education and to adopt an emergency temporary appropriation to cover the payment. Council members said the move was intended to prevent midyear reductions in force and preserve instructional continuity for students.

The resolution, read into the record by the clerk, said an independent audit disclosed a current-year shortfall of over $17,000,000 and found failures in fiscal controls and unbudgeted hires dating back to 2019. The measure directs the city's chief financial officer, city manager and city attorney to prepare and submit the required documentation to the Division of Local Government Services; the transfer is conditioned on inclusion in the municipal budget and state approval for any required budget amendment.

Why it matters: Council leaders and public speakers said the transfer is a stopgap to keep students and teachers in…