Little Ferry board to submit preliminary budget as officials cite state aid shortfall and updates on facilities projects

The Little Ferry Board of Education voted March 24 to submit its preliminary 2026–27 budget to the county office, while officials warned the district remains below full funding under the state aid formula and outlined several facility projects.

Board Secretary Mr. Gomez, in his financial report, said February financials were complete and that "the board is voting to submit the preliminary budget to the county office for approval," adding the county office has until April 20 to act. He also said the district has experienced a shortfall in state aid funding under the state formula and cited recent increases in preschool education aid.

"We did receive an increase in our preschool education aid," Mr. Gomez said, and later summarized that the district remains below full funding under the state aid formula. The transcript records numerical amounts when Mr. Gomez spoke about state aid but the figures were garbled in the record and require clarification from district financial records for precise totals.

On facilities, board members said they will award a bid for a new kitchen to be constructed adjacent to school spaces; board materials and presenters said the construction will begin after students are dismissed for the school year and is expected to be completed by September. A construction update on the Little Liberty Middle School expansion described completion of structural steel framing, slab-on-grade work, site grading, underground piping and utility conduit installation; district presenters said they hope to open the building toward the end of next year.

Mr. Gomez reported food-service statistics for February, including total meals served, a federal/state subsidy and monthly profit. "The profit for February was $20,384 and year to date, we're at 116,213 in net profit," he said in the meeting record; the board also noted a federal/state subsidy figure recorded in the transcript.

During public comment on agenda items, a resident asked for clarification about "Resolution 221," which the agenda describes as authorizing the district to apply to the Commissioner of Education for approval of a school facilities project and any required amendment to the long-range facilities plan. A board member replied, "It's the authorization to submit the plans," and added that the resolution was drafted by counsel and therefore reads differently than other routine resolutions.

In non-agenda public comment a resident asked, "How's the acquisition of the building across the street?" District staff corrected the wording: the district is leasing the office space, not purchasing it, and said furnishings and technology are being arranged and they expect to take occupancy around July 1.

The board also took a block vote to approve a set of consent and routine items listed on the agenda and previously posted; the motion carried by roll call with several members recorded as absent for votes. Earlier in the meeting the board approved the minutes of the Feb. 19 regular meeting.

The board closed the meeting after a motion and second to adjourn. The board is scheduled to hold its budget-adoption meeting and regular board meeting on April 30, 2026, at 7 p.m.