Wayne BOE reviews tentative 2026–27 budget with state‑aid gain and rising health costs

The Wayne Township Board of Education on March 19 reviewed a tentative 2026–27 budget that administrators said benefits from a 6% increase in state aid but still faces large health‑care and special‑services costs.

Business Administrator Julia DeMarco presented the plan, noting an increase in state aid of $783,936 that brings total state aid to just over $13 million and a tax levy cap increase of about $3,500,000. DeMarco outlined planned capital and operating investments, including a $1,300,000 withdrawal from capital reserve for multiple projects, $660,000 for Wi‑Fi upgrades at both high schools and seven elementary schools, $700,000 for rooftop HVAC replacement at Randall Carter, and $150,000 to replace paging systems at Wayne Hills and Lafayette elementary schools. She also said the district plans to spend $660,000 to refresh student Chromebooks, $460,000 for staff laptop replacements and $600,000 for two 24‑passenger wheelchair vans and two new 24‑passenger vans for transportation.

The presentation highlighted that local property taxes remain the dominant funding source — about 90% of the district’s revenues — and that the budget is also supported by federal and state grants, Medicaid reimbursement and extraordinary aid. DeMarco said the district will submit the tentative budget to the county office by March 27 and hold a final public hearing on May 7; adoption would follow after the May hearing.

Superintendent (speaking during the presentation) described how New Jersey computes state aid, pointing to enrollment, community wealth and home‑sale values as the major drivers. “First of all, I don't really like the word ‘state aid’ — aid sounds like you're getting a gift,” the superintendent said, explaining the state formula in lay terms.

Administrators warned the largest cost pressure is employee health benefits. DeMarco said the district received a $10.5 million health‑care adjustment that allows it to exceed the levy cap for that category but that projected health‑care costs are expected to rise by well over $13 million in the next school year; the district still must absorb about $3.2 million of that increase in its operating budget. Other expenditure pressures cited include a projected $2,300,000 increase in out‑of‑district tuition costs, a roughly $2,000,000 rise in specialized support services, utility increases of more than $400,000 and a lease‑purchase payment increase of about $598,000 tied partly to a preschool expansion financed through a $5,000,000 state grant and a $7,000,000 district share backed by a 20‑year bond issued by the Passaic County Improvement Authority.

DeMarco presented an illustrative tax impact based on an average assessed residential value of $231,655, saying the estimated annual increase would be $296 — about $24.67 per month or roughly 81 cents per day — and pointed attendees to a chart for property‑specific estimates.

Board members praised administration for presenting a budget that maintains staff levels. The superintendent and board highlighted that, under the proposed plan, there are no anticipated teacher layoffs and the district aims to preserve small class sizes.

Next steps: the board asked for any revisions and signaled intent to vote on a tentative budget before the county deadline; the transcript records the presentation and procedural roll calls but does not record a final adoption vote on the budget at this meeting.