Franklin Township board adopts 2026–27 budget, citing rising health-care and charter costs

The Franklin Township Public Schools Board of Education on April 28 approved the districtbudget for 2026, the administration said.

Superintendent Dr. Vali, who led the presentation, told the board the advertised budget has become the final proposal for consideration and described the main fiscal pressures facing the district: sharply higher health-care premiums, salary increases above contractual minima, incomplete categorical state aid and rising charter-school tuition. "There's no mechanism in this place. In other places there is called equalization aid here. No," Dr. Vali said, summarizing how the state's adequacy/fair-share formula can leave the district dependent on the local levy.

Why it matters: The administration said charter-school tuition and transportation account for a large share of the district's costs and that earlier use of reserves reduced one-time capacity to smooth levy impacts. Stephen Freed, the district's school business administrator, presented the numbers and identified the grand tax levy at $194,391,315, which he said represents roughly 88% of general fund revenue. Freed said the adopted levy reflects a 2% base increase plus an automatic health-care waiver, which together produce an 8.3% levy adjustment. He also calculated an average homeowner impact of $481 per year.

Board members pressed administration on whether in-district program expansion (including a pilot Next Tech Academy and cosmetology offerings) could help retain students who now attend charters and thereby reduce tuition outflows. Administration said shifting programs in-house can reduce transportation and tuition costs over time but would require detailed operational study and careful transport-planning.

Public comment that preceded the vote included concerns about affordability and program value. Resident Vicky Quan asked, "If CJCP can educate their children with $15,000, why are we spending $32,000 on Franklin High School student?" Another resident, Halen Fu, called the proposed levy "simply not sustainable for the hardworking families of this community." Board and administration responses emphasized differences in student populations (special education and English learner needs), program breadth and out-of-district costs that can make per-student comparisons misleading.

The vote: Following discussion, a motion to adopt the 2026'027 budget passed on a roll-call vote with the board voting in favor and the motion recorded by the board secretary. The boardbudget will be reflected in next steps: certified tuition rates will be posted and the district will publish the presentation slides and detailed line items on its website, administration said.

The board also approved a broad consent package of routine items (minutes, warrants, contracts, personnel actions and grant applications) during the same meeting.

What happens next: The district will certify tuition rates and finalize administrative procedures tied to the budget; administration said it will continue to pursue state-level changes to the funding formula and local strategies intended to reduce out-of-district tuition pressure.