Vineland Board of Education reviews $246.7 million proposed budget, seeks 6% tax‑rate increase

The Vineland Board of Education heard a presentation of the proposed 2026–27 school district budget, which would raise the district tax rate by roughly 6% and set the tax levy at $37,422,355.

Scott Musterell, the district’s school business administrator, told the board the total general fund would be $217,912,076 and that grants add to a total budget of $246,660,023, an increase of almost $8 million from the current year. "I'm here to present the 2627 proposed school district budget," Musterell said as he opened the overview of revenues and appropriations.

Why it matters: the proposal would raise the tax-rate component of local school funding and shift spending across instruction, special education and facilities while relying heavily on state aid. Musterell said state aid comprises roughly 76% of district revenues and that salaries and benefits make up about 72.9% of total expenditures.

Musterell detailed key figures: projected enrollment for next year is 9,435, down from 9,660; the district’s proposed tax levy is $37,422,355 based on a tax rate of 0.9111; and the state-calculated “fair share” figure the district was compared against was $89,735,467. According to the figures Musterell presented, the district is receiving less tax revenue than the state’s calculated fair-share comparison by about $52.3 million.

On homeowner impact, Musterell said an owner of a home assessed at the district average of $163,159 would see an increase of about $84.15 under the proposed tax rate. He also gave a breakdown of the overall 2025 tax rate showing county, school and municipal shares of local property taxes.

On appropriations, Musterell outlined major line items: regular instruction (~$56.3 million), special education (~$25.1 million), support services (~$18.1 million), tuition and charter payments (~$15.6 million), facilities (~$19 million) and benefits (~$54 million). He said that, overall, salaries and benefits represent about 72.9% of the district’s budget.

Musterell attributed most of the budget increases to rising employee costs and health premiums. He reported health-premium costs up 16.68% (about $5.9 million) and prescription costs up 23.5% (about $1.74 million). Contractual salary increases and attrition-related adjustments add roughly $2.2 million, and the district plans to add staff including a net one teacher and 10 aides (projected about $750,000), two secondary coaching positions (science and math), an itinerant nurse (about $110,000) and continued funding for a principal for the alternative program.

The presentation listed planned capital and technology expenditures: a district Wi‑Fi replacement and new firewall estimated at $1.4 million, of which Musterell said about 80% is expected to be covered through E‑rate (leaving an estimated local cost of approximately $295,000), two new high‑school bathrooms (~$300,000), and a partial roof replacement at the high school B wing (~$861,000). He also noted a device grant for the high school (described in the transcript as a "Bills coach") that provides a $25,000 offset and that certain security camera platform upgrades and a lawnmower purchase were included in facilities costs.

Musterell identified several savings and one‑time reductions: ending a shared-services part‑time police detail (about $80,000), not filling a vacant transportation assistant coordinator ($95,000), reducing three driver positions without operational impact (estimated savings $171,000), optimized subcontracted routes and technology efficiencies, and the conclusion of a bus lease payment (final payment saved ~ $374,000). He also described an energy‑savings program (ESIP) expected to yield roughly $450,000 in utility savings from LED upgrades.

The board took a procedural vote to open the public hearing on the budget and later voted to close the hearing after Musterell’s presentation; no board or public questions were recorded during the hearing. The Chair noted the formal vote on the budget will occur at the combined meeting on May 6.

The board meeting record includes acknowledgements from Musterell to central administration and named staff who worked on the budget. The transcript shows no public comments on the budget at this hearing and no substantive board objections recorded during the presentation.

Next steps: the Vineland Board of Education is scheduled to vote on the 2026–27 budget at the combined meeting on May 6; a final adoption vote at that meeting will determine whether the proposed tax levy and appropriations move forward.