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Nutley board approves slate of resolutions including advertised 2026–27 budget after public hearing
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Summary
After a public hearing on the 2026–27 budget, the Nutley Public School District board approved a package of resolutions that included adoption of the advertised budget. Administrators said the plan balances sustainability with program protections amid rising insurance and special-education costs.
The Nutley Public School District Board of Education approved a block of finance resolutions that included the advertised 2026–27 budget following a public hearing and presentation by the district’s business administrator.
Business administrator Mr. Davida, introduced earlier by Superintendent Mr. Beano, told the board the total annual budget is "a little over $101,000,000," with operating revenues just under $90 million and operating expenditures just under $87 million. He said the state provided a 3% increase over the current year—about $726,803—and that a September 2025 bond refunding produced roughly $907,000 in savings reflected in the proposed plan. "This budget reflects a careful balance between fiscal responsibility and our shared commitment to providing a high quality education for all students," Mr. Davida said in the presentation.
Administrators stressed that personnel and benefits are the largest budget drivers. The district is self-insured for health benefits; the presentation said health coverage remains the single largest line item, including estimated claims, stop-loss premiums and related surcharges. Board members repeatedly highlighted an approximately 18% jump in health-insurance premiums this year and cautioned the cost trend is unsustainable without state intervention.
Officials described efficiency measures used to reduce appropriations: consolidating sixth-grade students into John H. Walker Middle School to avoid refilling positions, reviewing transportation routes, trimming discretionary supplies and limiting summer hours. Mr. Davida said discretionary funds total roughly $3,000,000 (about 3.25% of the operating budget).
On state funding, Mr. Davida explained the adequacy budget and local fair-share concept used by New Jersey. He said the state’s adequacy figure for 2026–27 is $88,743,000 and that Nutley is roughly $9,600,000 below that benchmark. He also presented the estimated tax impact: the average assessed home in Nutley at $494,786, a district ratable base of $4,000,978,000, an average tax increase for that home of about $392, and a school tax rate of 1.462% (up 0.079 from 2025). He noted the advertised budget and a user-friendly budget will be posted to the district website if the board’s action stands.
The board moved and approved the finance resolutions (which the administration said included final tax-levy certification steps) by roll-call vote. The business administrator outlined the next steps: certify the results of the public hearing to the county office, post the user-friendly budget to the district website, and submit the tax-levy certification to the required county and state offices.
The board then recessed into an executive session to discuss personnel, contracts and legal matters.
