Egg Harbor Township School District board approves $210.2 million 2026–27 budget; about 22.84 FTE reductions slated

Egg Harbor Township School District Board of Education members voted to adopt the 2026–27 district budget on April 28, approving a $210,176,518 spending plan and a local tax levy of $89,992,854.

The vote followed a staff presentation that said the district managed to hold the tax rate steady and generate an additional $1.6 million (1.98%) of levy revenue because ratables increased. The board approved the budget on a recorded roll call after a motion by Mr. Buyers and a second from Debarka; nine members voted yes and the motion passed.

Board members and staff said the budget was driven by a larger-than-expected rise in health benefit costs and mixed changes in state aid. Business office staff reported total appropriations rose by about $10.7 million, with roughly $6.6 million of that attributable to health benefits. At the same time, the district received an unexpected increase in equalization aid of more than $4 million, staff said.

"The tax rate stayed the same," the district presenter said in response to a member's question, explaining that because ratables went up the levy increased even though the rate did not. The presenter described the budget development process as a multi-month effort that prioritized non-personnel savings and reassignments before reducing staff.

Staff reported that the district reduced a preliminary list of proposed personnel reductions through retirements, vacancies and certification-based reassignments, ending with a net of about 22.84 full‑time-equivalent positions eliminated. "We've maintained all of our programming for students with the exception of Latin at the high school," staff said, noting guidance staff are working with students who wish to complete the Latin sequence.

The presentation also noted a technical change to the special revenue (preschool) fund: a $47,000 carryover was required to be budgeted under recent state accounting guidance, increasing the preschool budget to about $10,893,266; staff said the carryover had a matching appropriation to cover health benefits in that program and did not affect the general fund tax rate.

Other figures presented to the board included an adequacy budget of about $161 million, a local fair share figure of about $89 million and a total general fund levy of roughly $84.5 million; the district explained the difference between the adequacy budget and local fair share determines equalization aid. Staff also outlined a steady debt service tax levy projected at about $5,450,000 next year tied to a bond referendum approved March 10.

Board members praised the business office and central staff for months of work to minimize job losses and preserve programs. "Thank you for all your hard work," one board member said. Several members also voiced concern about the risk of future state changes to the funding formula and how holding the local tax rate flat this year could affect next year's fiscal picture.

The board opened public comment for budget items and general comments but no members of the public spoke during the allotted periods. After the roll-call vote approving the budget, the board adjourned the special meeting that same evening.

The adopted budget and levy will be submitted as required to the county office and posted per public-notice rules; staff said work on the 2027–28 budget process begins immediately.