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Lodi Board approves preliminary budget with 4.5% tax-levy increase after debate and public comment
Summary
The Lodi Board of Education approved preliminary budget items FB1–FB3 by majority vote, endorsing a 4.5% proposed tax levy after administrators cited a 30% jump in health-benefit costs and roughly $1.2 million in reduced state aid. Trustees and residents debated capital projects, health-plan options and special-education costs.
The Lodi Board of Education voted to approve preliminary budget items FB1 through FB3 on March 25, endorsing a proposed 4.5% increase in the tax levy for the 2026–27 school year after extended discussion and public comment.
Superintendent D'Amico framed the district's decision, saying health benefit costs "have increased by more than 30%, an impact which adds $2,600,000 to our budgeted expenditures," and noting a roughly $1,200,000 reduction in state aid. "Together, these 2 factors have created a significant challenge for the district," he said, and described a revised proposal that lowers an earlier 5.5% levy recommendation to 4.5% while trimming spending lines.
The administration also removed an athletic-field replacement from the budget presented that evening, saying the project would rely on safety testing and could be funded from capital reserve if needed. "This is about student safety and risk management and not about enhancement or luxury," D'Amico said, noting that any…
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