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Glen Rock board approves tentative budget after heated debate over rising health‑care costs
Summary
The Glen Rock Board approved a tentative budget that includes a net tax‑levy increase of about 5.62% after trustees cited large state-managed health‑insurance increases; several trustees voted against the budget's B1 resolution but the measure passed by roll call.
The Glen Rock Board of Education voted Tuesday to approve tentative resolutions for the 2026–27 budget despite vocal public concern and internal debate over the proposed tax‑levy increase.
Trustees approved the package of resolutions B1–B8 after extended discussion of the district’s fiscal position; board members and administration repeatedly traced most of the levy increase to sharply rising health‑insurance costs administered at the state level. "Most of the tax increase is due to health care cost increases," said Trustee Cohen during deliberations, noting that districts statewide are struggling under higher insurance rates. The business administrator explained that the district’s operating levy rose 6.26% while declines in debt service reduced the net levy increase to about 5.62%.
Several trustees pushed for additional line‑by‑line scrutiny. "We have to hold ourselves accountable to examine every line," one trustee said, arguing for further review of administrative and legal expenditures; others defended the budget as necessary to avoid cutting direct student services such as teachers and programs. Trustees debated the limitations of the state’s 2% soft cap on tax‑levy growth and the specific exemptions that allow districts to exceed it — most relevantly, large increases in the state health‑benefit plan.
On the roll call for B1 (a component of the tentative budget), four trustees recorded "no" votes while the full package passed. The board’s chair and the administration emphasized the budget is tentative: it will go to the county for review and will be presented in full detail at the May public hearing, at which residents can inspect line items and proposed changes.
The board also discussed fiscal transparency measures and options for reducing future increases, including potential advocacy to Trenton for reforms to the state‑run health plan, shared services with the borough to offset costs, and a longer‑term look at capital versus operating tradeoffs.
Next steps: The tentative budget will be submitted to the county and returned for a formal public presentation in May, where trustees may adopt a final budget after public hearings.
Vote and motion details: The motion to approve B1–B8 was made and seconded on the floor; the roll call recorded several dissenting votes specifically on B1 but the motion passed by the required majority.
