Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wayne Board hears 2026–27 budget presentation; health‑benefit rise drives tax impact
Summary
The Wayne Board of Education reviewed a proposed $211.1 million operating budget for 2026–27 that would raise the district tax levy and absorb large health‑benefit cost increases; the budget presentation emphasized preserving classroom programs while shifting some costs to taxpayers under a state health‑benefit adjustment.
The Wayne Board of Education held a public work session on May 7, 2026, where administrators presented the proposed 2026–27 operating budget and explained that rising health‑benefit costs are the main driver of the district’s increase.
Superintendent Mister Cerradino opened the presentation by praising district teachers and nurses and framed the budget discussion around statewide policy changes and health‑care cost growth. "Chapter 78 and Chapter 44...moved the tombstones but not the bodies," he said, arguing that earlier statutory changes have not produced the taxpayer relief originally intended and that health‑care prices continue to climb.
Business administrator Miss DeMarco presented the detailed figures. The proposed operating budget is $211,100,000, an 8.41% increase over the current year. The district’s tax levy would increase by about $3,500,000 (the 2% tax‑cap maximum), state aid is projected to increase roughly $783,936, and the board is proposing a health‑benefit adjustment of about $10,500,000 to help offset rising employee benefits. Miss DeMarco said total health‑care costs are projected to increase by more than $13,000,000, leaving the operating budget to absorb an estimated $3,200,000 of additional cost beyond the health‑benefit adjustment.
Miss DeMarco also outlined capital and one‑time expenditures: withdrawing $1,300,000 from capital reserves (including $660,000 for Wi‑Fi upgrades, $700,000 for HVAC replacement at Randall Carter, and $150,000 to replace paging systems at two schools). She said the district plans to refresh Chromebooks (approximately $660,000) and allocate about $460,000 toward staff laptops and $600,000 for vehicle replacements, including wheelchair‑accessible vans.
Using an average assessed home value of $231,655 in the district, Miss DeMarco estimated the tax impact at about $296 per year (roughly $24.67 per month). She noted the budget was advertised and posted on the district website on May 1 in accordance with state requirements and said the public hearing on May 7 was part of the required adoption process; the budget remains pending the board’s formal vote.
Board members and the superintendent emphasized efforts to protect classroom programs and staffing where possible. "No teacher in good standing will lose a position this year," the superintendent said, while acknowledging some administrative positions were consolidated and that difficult choices were made to limit layoffs.
The board took routine procedural action to move the agenda before public comment; that motion carried on roll call. No formal adoption vote for the 2026–27 budget appears in the meeting record; Miss DeMarco said adoption is pending and would occur if the board approves it later in the evening.
