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Board views 2026–27 budget video; members ask about reserve balances and fencing quotes
Summary
The board watched the district's 2026–27 budget video outlining cost drivers and priorities; members asked the business administrator to clarify apparent discrepancies in capital‑reserve balances across packet pages and discussed two fencing quotes (about $52,000 and $72,009) for school property security.
The board viewed a district video presenting the Middlesex Borough Public Schools 2026–27 budget, which described the plan as student‑centered and noted rising cost drivers such as health care, special education and negotiated salaries. The video stated instructional salaries and employee benefits make up the largest share of appropriations, reported as "over $52,000,000."
During the facilities and finance portion of the meeting a board member flagged inconsistent numbers across packet pages for the capital reserve and maintenance reserve closing balances. The business administrator/board secretary explained the difference: page 1 shows cash accounts (the current fund cash), while the financial statements consolidate multiple cash accounts into the general‑fund totals. "There is only $296,000 that's in the actual cash account for the capital reserve," the business administrator explained, clarifying how the pages reflect different accounting views.
Board members also examined quotes for fencing and play‑area upgrades. One quote to install a fence around school property was about $52,000; an alternate higher quote shown in the packet exceeded $72,000. The district said the proposals were pursued through cooperative purchasing and only two responsive quotes were listed for review.
