Business administrator warns enrollment dip and possible charter school could cut Hillside district revenue

The district’s Business Administrator, introduced by the board as Dwayne McNeil, told the board the presentation on the tentative budget was precautionary because a charter‑school application currently appears on the district’s state aid report.

McNeil said the district has seen enrollment decline since 2023 and showed what he described as the most recent enrollment figure (about 2,910 students). He said that, on a per‑pupil revenue basis of roughly $20,000, a loss of about 100 students would represent nearly $2 million in revenue.

McNeil also reported that Hillside’s state aid revenues have decreased by about 3% in recent years and said a charter school listed on the state aid report would divert roughly $4.37 million if it opened in the district. “If you take that and you combine that with loss in revenue, the cumulative loss in revenue…we're talking $6,600,000 over 2 years,” McNeil said.

He presented broad revenue figures — roughly $33 million in local tax levy and about $32 million in state aid — and told the board the district’s total revenues are “north of $74,000,000” in the tentative projection. McNeil emphasized the presentation was tentative: the district must include the charter in the filing because it currently appears on state records, but the state could later notify the district that the charter will not come to Hillside.

The Business Administrator said the board is being asked to adopt a tentative budget at the meeting, submit it to the county the next day and advertise the final budget hearing, currently scheduled for May 7. He said the district plans to revise the final budget if the state subsequently denies the charter application.

The board did not take a final vote on a final budget at this meeting; the presentation was described as the required tentative submission to meet county deadlines.