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Evesham board presents $102.4M final budget, preserves late busing with 2% levy increase amid health-care uncertainty
Summary
Administrators presented a $102,395,600 final 2026—27 budget that relies on a 2% local tax levy increase (about $1.8M), a $1,023,000 capital-reserve withdrawal, and a $700,000 extraordinary aid budget assumption; the board discussed preserving late busing, staffing adjustments and rising state health-benefit costs.
The Evesham Township Board of Education heard the administration's final budget presentation for fiscal year 2026—27, which shows a proposed spending plan of $102,395,600 and a local tax-levy increase of approximately 2% (about $1.8 million).
Business administrator Mr. Yates outlined revenue and expense drivers for the coming year. He said the district's projected revenue includes a modest state funding increase this year but stressed that state aid has fallen substantially since FY17 while enrollment has remained relatively flat; the district's October 15 count for FY27 is 4,439 students. Yates flagged major budget pressures: benefits are projected to rise (the presentation cited a $4.1—4.2 million increase tied to the State Health Benefits Program actuarial shortfall), salaries are increasing roughly 3—4%, and transportation and special-education mandates remain cost drivers.
To balance the budget, the administration proposed using a $1,023,000 withdrawal from capital reserve for planned capital projects (security and access-control upgrades, restroom renovations, classroom refurbishments, paving/mill & replacement of the Macy staff parking lot, and water-source heat pump replacements). Yates also outlined miscellaneous revenue sources that help offset costs, including building leases, facility rentals, surplus-asset sales, club/activity fees and bank interest (the presentation noted more than $500,000 a year from bank interest).
On transportation and extracurricular services, the administration described an "alternate pathway" to preserve late busing: increase the projected clubs/activities revenue by $150,000 (not by raising fees), reduce elementary late busing from four to three days per week (saving $50,000 while still operating buses on days of extracurriculars), eliminate one additional elementary general-education position (class-size dependent), and apply one-time district tuition credits ($168,000) plus retirements to close the remaining gap. The board framed that package as a compromise designed to maintain robust extracurricular transportation while controlling costs.
Board members and public commenters pressed the administration on several points. One resident asked how proceeds from last year's additional $14.2 million tax authority were spent, noting a prior promise that half would go to instruction and half to capital; another questioned why last year's advertised capital "emergencies" (including heat-pump replacements) appear still outstanding. ETA president Bridal Wiskowitz spoke against eliminating positions, warning of class-size impacts. Patty Meeker asked whether the heat-pump purchases promised in last year's capital program had been completed and requested clearer reporting on capital-project spending.
Yates confirmed the district received a Burlington County JIF dividend of $39,318 that will be used to offset premiums. Regarding state health benefits, he said the district does not control the state plan's premium-setting timeline and that districts should expect a renewal-based increase (discussions referenced actuary recommendations of roughly 17% and informal figures as high as 40% reported by actuaries; Yates emphasized the final premium will not be known until state rate releases later in the budget cycle).
The board proceeded with consent approvals across the agenda (minutes, superintendent reports, curriculum items and finance/operations items noted as 9.1 through 9.17 on the agenda); roll calls were recorded and the motions carried with some abstentions noted on specific line items. The administration said the final presentation and project list will be posted online.
Next steps: administration will publish the budget presentation materials online and the board will continue to monitor health-benefit rate information and capital-project scheduling; the superintendent and board also signaled continued advocacy at the state level for changes to the school funding formula.
