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Jersey City board adopts $971.2M budget; parents press for special-education reforms
Summary
After a public hearing and two hours of comment focused on taxes, staffing and special education, the Board adopted a $971,223,877 operating budget that uses a 2% levy increase plus banked levy authority; the vote passed (recorded tally: 5 yes, 2 no, 1 abstain) and parents urged audits, a special-education advisory committee and staff protections.
The Jersey City Board of Education voted to adopt the district's 2026-27 operating budget of $971,223,877 after a public hearing that drew dozens of parents, students and advocates who spoke about taxes, staffing and special-education failures.
Dr. Francine Luce, the district's business administrator, presented the final proposed budget and read the key numbers onto the record: a total operating budget of $971,223,877, an increase of about $56.3 million from the prior year; a projected local tax levy of $545,175,855 that uses the 2% statutory levy increase and previously banked levy authority, state aid of $125,746,990, and an estimated average monthly homeowner tax impact of $66.25.
"I am going to read the numbers so that it is on the record," Luce said during the presentation, and she repeatedly emphasized the distinction between the tax levy and the tax rate. "We are using our 2% mandated cap," she said, adding that an improvement in rebate funding and energy-savings modeling had improved the budget's financing.
Board discussion and public comment were sharply focused on two themes: whether the tax increase was accurately described in media coverage, and whether the district's administration and special-education services have been adequately managed. Several speakers said they had seen headlines stating a 17% tax hike; Luce and trustees said that figure represented the difference in levy authority year over year (including banked authority) and not an annual tax-rate increase for homeowners.
During public comment a range of speakers urged greater transparency and accountability. Elizabeth Perry said, "We are being told that this proposed 2026-27 budget will increase taxes, lay off approximately 138 staff members, and increase class sizes," and asked for an itemized accounting of blended Title I funds. Jessica Taub, speaking for families of students with disabilities, said the district first requested a comprehensive audit of special education in 2019 and that the pace of remediation has been too slow.
Advocates asked trustees to establish a permanent special-education reform advisory committee, to run an external national search for a permanent director of special education and to commission programmatic audits. Vanessa Vega summarized a proposed committee structure that would be majority parent-led, meet in public, and have a role in the hiring process and oversight.
When the board called the roll on the budget motion, the clerk recorded individual responses and the motion passed. The recorded tally from the roll call in the public meeting was five recorded yes votes, two no votes and one abstention; the chair declared the motion passed.
What comes next: trustees said the administration will continue advocacy with city and state officials over funding, revise savings models where needed, and present the final audit and ESIP reconciliations to the board in coming weeks. Parents and advocates said they plan to press for a special-education advisory structure and for faster action on audit findings.
