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Lawrence Township board reviews $93 million draft budget, cites benefits as main driver of increase
Summary
District leaders presented a draft 2026–27 budget of about $93 million, citing rising employee benefits (medical, prescription, pension) and salaries as the primary cost drivers; a public hearing is set for May and the budget will be submitted to Mercer County for review.
Lawrence Township Board of Education members reviewed a draft 2026–27 budget that district leaders said totals roughly $93 million, up from about $89 million this year, with the largest increases tied to employee benefits and salaries.
Superintendent Dr. Robin Clim and finance staff told the board that salaries account for about 60% of the budget and benefits for roughly 21%, with medical and prescription costs and pension obligations singled out as the primary cost drivers. The presentation noted that benefit increases are affecting districts statewide and that Lawrence Township’s medical/prescription increases are hovering around 18% while state health program increases exceed 30% for some districts.
The draft budget reflects planned program expansions, including two new preschool classrooms intended to serve about 285 children in an earlier-start preschool model and a public service academy at the high school offering internships and externships with emergency services. District leaders said preschool expansion helps offset levy costs by roughly $800,000 annually through the separate preschool budget.
Officials described the revenue side as improved in several lines, including increased state aid and debt-service aid tied to the district’s recent referendum. Board staff said the district is “beyond the 2% cap” and will use a spending-growth limitation adjustment (cap waiver) related to health-benefit increases; officials offered to help residents calculate tax impact individually.
The administration said it will file the draft with the Mercer County Department of Education for review and expects a public budget hearing on May 6. Dr. Clim emphasized that the draft’s program decisions were developed through committee work over the past year and that appointments to committees and service partnerships (police presence in schools, cooperative purchasing, and other cost-saving strategies) helped limit increases where possible.
Next steps: the board will formally submit the budget for county review, post the advertised budget and detailed tables online, and hold the public hearing in May where residents may comment before final adoption.
