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Nutley board to submit $101.15 million tentative 2026‑27 budget, citing steep health‑care and utility cost pressures
Summary
The Nutley Board of Education approved submitting a $101,150,543 tentative 2026‑27 budget to the county, citing an added $4.8 million healthcare adjustment and large year‑over‑year increases in healthcare and utilities. A public hearing is scheduled for April 27, 2026.
The Nutley Board of Education voted to submit a tentative $101,150,543 budget for the 2026‑27 school year to the Executive County Superintendent, Business Administrator DeVita said at the meeting.
DeVita said the tentative budget covers the general fund, special revenue fund and debt service fund and includes a waiver adjustment for health‑care costs and a withdrawal from maintenance reserve. He told the board the packet and supporting documents will be submitted to the county office by March 27, 2026, and the district will present a detailed budget at a public hearing on April 27, 2026.
Why it matters: board members and administrators emphasized that health‑care and utility costs are the primary drivers of this year’s increase. During discussion, a finance mover cited an approximately $4.8 million adjustment for health‑care costs added to the budget and noted an 18% health‑care cost increase from the prior year, saying "over $3.2 million just in healthcare alone." A separate board speaker observed utility costs have risen roughly 25–30% and that those increases, along with other insurance and liability costs, are largely beyond local control.
The budget process and next steps: after county review the budget will be advertised at least four days prior to the April 27 public hearing. District officials also noted that preschool education aid budget worksheets are due to the state by April 1, 2026, and that a new lease for copy machines is on the agenda; the administration said the copier lease is expected to reduce costs compared with the current arrangement.
Board context: speakers said they worked to preserve programs while balancing the budget. One board member noted the package uses the district’s 2% tax levy cap and the additional health‑care adjustment to reach balance, and the board is preparing a letter to the governor — in coordination with other districts — urging state assistance on rising costs.
The county office will review the submission; the board will return to present a more detailed budget at the April 27 public hearing.
