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Ridgewood board adopts 4% tax levy to cover soaring health‑benefit costs; budget passes 5‑0
Summary
The Ridgewood Board of Education approved the 2026–27 final budget May 4, 2026, voting to raise the local tax levy by 4% to help offset large health‑benefit premium increases. Officials said $1.66 million in savings from moving off the state plan reduced the cuts needed, but staffing consolidations and changes to courtesy busing remain under review.
The Ridgewood Board of Education on May 4 adopted its 2026–27 final budget and voted to raise the local tax levy by 4% after administrators warned of sharply rising health‑benefit costs and declining state aid.
Superintendent Dr. Troy Schwarz and business official Mr. Matthews presented the budget at a public hearing, telling residents that the district faced a two‑year trend of higher health‑care premiums and other cost pressures. "This has been a very challenging budget process," Dr. Schwarz said, asking the public to consider the trade‑offs between maintaining programs and fiscal restraint.
The administration said an early procurement effort to leave the state health plan and bundle benefits produced roughly $1.66 million in savings that helped…
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