District advances tentative 2026-27 budget amid steep special-education and health-care cost pressures

The Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District board advanced a tentative 2026-27 budget at its March meeting and scheduled a full public presentation and hearing for late April, administrators said.

Superintendent Miss Perez told the board the district plans to submit a tentative budget to the county and will hold a detailed public breakdown on April 27. "We will have our budget presentation in April," she said, adding that district officials expect to expand early-learning programs next year and are balancing those priorities with rising costs. "A survey conducted across the county by our superintendents in Monmouth County highlighted the health care salaries and special ed costs on the rise and primary drivers in developing the school budget," Miss Perez said.

Finance staff previewed items the board was asked to approve, including the board secretary report, payroll certification, treasurer's report, transfers and a bills list. Board members stressed the budget is a starting point. One board member said some cost categories are increasing in "triple-digit increases" and flagged out-of-district tuitions, special-education placements, health insurance and prescription costs as major budget pressures.

The meeting also noted preschool funding for the coming year and a March 26 preschool lottery. "Our preschool lottery is March 26," Miss Perez said, and the district plans preschool classrooms at multiple sites to expand capacity for early learners.

The board accepted the finance agenda during the meeting; specific vote tallies for the tentative budget submission were not specified in the transcript segments provided. The administration said it will continue to search for savings and additional revenue and will present a full cost-per-pupil and revenue-source analysis at the April public session.