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Hazlet board approves 2026–27 budget after cuts to courtesy busing and other services
Summary
The Hazlet Township Public School District board approved the 2026–27 budget, citing a roughly $6 million starting deficit, steep health‑benefit increases and only a $381,000 state aid boost; the plan trims courtesy bussing and kindergarten transportation and relies on solar and grant strategies to reduce long‑term costs.
The Hazlet Township Public School District Board of Education on Thursday approved the 2026–27 operating budget after a public presentation that described a roughly $6 million starting deficit and large health‑benefit cost increases.
Board leaders and the business administrator told the public the district qualified for about $5 million in additional taxes last year and used that funding to restore staff and programs — including two elementary guidance counselors, targeted reading staff and a special‑education teacher. But the business administrator said a $381,000 increase in state aid from the new governor fell far short of the district’s needs, leaving a December 15 beginning deficit estimated at over $6,000,000.
“To close that gap we had to make some difficult decisions,” the business administrator said, listing steps that include eliminating courtesy bussing on non‑hazardous routes, ending kindergarten transportation aids the district said are not required by state law, and reducing five instructional positions through attrition plus three support roles. The presentation also cited sharp premium increases in the state health benefits plan — the presenter reported roughly a 30% rise for health coverage and a 45% rise for prescription coverage — as a primary driver of the budget pressure.
The board said the tax levy increase for the budget year will appear larger in percentage terms (reported as 7.3%) but that average‑household impacts were being presented as dollar amounts; the administrator said the typical house would see an increase of about $500 annually (roughly $1.50 per day), based on town ratables and the district’s calculations.
Officials described a set of cost‑mitigation and revenue strategies intended to avoid further program cuts: expanded solar power contracts that the district said will cut energy costs (the district reported securing rates near 3.5¢ per kilowatt for some schools and staged contracts to include roof work under the power‑purchase agreements), a federal/state roofing grant expected to cover about 40% of a middle‑school roof replacement, and a proposed community‑solar lease that the administrator estimated could generate $60,000–$80,000 annually for 15 years. The presentation also highlighted a plan to recruit out‑of‑district tuition students into specialized high‑school programs as another revenue source.
During the public hearing, a resident asked whether school presentations would continue when board meetings move to Raritan High School; the board said school presentations would still occur. After public comment, a motion to approve the 2026–27 budget was made and seconded and the board approved it by roll call.
The district also approved routine personnel items on the superintendent’s consent agenda in the same meeting, including the hire of a school psychologist (Letter H) and a maintenance/plumbing hire (Letter I).
