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Denville board adopts 2026–27 budget after sharp health‑benefits spike drives levy increase
Summary
The Denville Township K‑8 School District board adopted a $47 million 2026–27 budget that officials said is driven chiefly by a sharp rise in employee health‑benefit costs; the levy portion will rise roughly 7.3%, administrators said, and the board used reserves to fund some capital projects.
The Denville Township K‑8 School District board on Tuesday adopted its final 2026–27 budget after officials said rising health‑benefit costs and other labor increases left few alternatives.
Dr. Forte, the superintendent, told the board the district’s labor costs rose about $2.6 million this year, of which roughly $1.95 million was described as the health‑benefits adjustment. "Eighty percent of our budget goes towards people," Dr. Forte said during the presentation, noting that local taxpayers provide about 90% of the district’s operating revenue.
The budget package lists a local tax‑levy component of about $39.8 million; administrators said the levy increase is roughly 7.28% and estimated that works out to about a $348 increase per taxpayer next year. The board said the district will use reserves to pay a slate of facility projects — boiler replacements, window work and annex power upgrades — to avoid further pressure on the levy.
To balance the budget, administrators proposed cuts including four instructional aide positions, reduced instructional supplies and deferred furniture and bus purchases; the Dallas program will be fully parent‑funded next year, officials said.
Board members pressed the administration on state aid and whether the district had been shorted under the School Funding Reform Act of 2008 and subsequent S2 adjustments. Administrators said the district has been underpaid in recent years and cited a gap they put at about $2.8 million in combined regular and extraordinary aid since 2023; the board discussed legislative advocacy but said legal challenges would be complex and costly.
The finance motions, moved by Mr. Anderson and approved by roll call, included the final budget as presented. Roll call recorded all voting members in favor. After the vote, trustees asked staff to provide periodic updates on major projects funded from reserves and on health‑benefit negotiations.
The budget adoption concludes the district’s formal budget process for 2026–27; the administration said more detail, including the full expenditures breakdown, would be posted on the district website.
