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Hackettstown board adopts tentative $53.3 million 2026–27 budget, schedules May 6 public hearing
Summary
The Hackettstown Board of Education approved a tentative $53,296,647 2026–27 budget at its March 18 meeting, setting a May 6 public hearing; the plan raises $22,580,592 in local taxes, includes a $315,000 capital-reserve deposit and authorizes up to $250,000 withdrawal for high-school parking improvements.
The Hackettstown Board of Education voted March 18 to adopt a tentative budget for the 2026–27 school year totaling $53,296,647 and set a public hearing on the plan for May 6 at 7 p.m. in the Hackettstown High School Media Center. The district lists anticipated revenues of $30,716,055 and local taxes to be raised of $22,580,592.
Board members approved the budget as part of a consent slate of business items. School Business Administrator James Schlessinger presented the initial numbers during the Superintendent’s Report, noting the district included a $634,980 adjustment to address increases in health-benefit costs and plans a $315,000 deposit into the district’s capital reserve. The minutes show other budget adjustments were recorded as $0 where applicable.
The budget message in the minutes also states that the board included an enrollment adjustment of $0 and no deferred PERS pension contribution adjustments for 2026–27. A public hearing on the tentative budget is scheduled for May 6 at 7:00 p.m., after which the board may adopt a final budget consistent with applicable state requirements.
In related action, the board approved routine finance items on the Business Administrator’s recommendation, including a general check register for Feb. 12–Mar. 18 totaling $5,848,660.05 and a cafeteria register for the same period totaling $152,221.02. The minutes attach vendor and expenditure detail by reference.
Separately, the board set spending ceilings for professional services for the coming year (legal $100,000; auditing $45,000; architect/engineering $125,000; other professional services $75,000) and established a $30,000 maximum travel expenditure from state and local funds for 2026–27, consistent with N.J.A.C. requirements cited in the minutes.
The board also included a capital-reserve deposit of $315,000 in the tentative budget and authorized the Business Administrator to withdraw up to $250,000 from capital reserve if needed to upgrade student parking facilities and traffic flow at the high school. The authorization states the withdrawal would be used only if necessary and up to the specified amount.
Next steps: the board will hold the advertised May 6 public hearing before finalizing the budget.
