Paterson board approves $851.9M preliminary 2026–27 budget amid concerns about charter growth and staffing

The Paterson Public School District Board of Education on March 26 approved a preliminary $851,897,398 budget for 2026–27, including a local tax levy of $86,291,849, after a staff presentation and a 7–2 roll-call vote.

The vote followed a presentation from Miss Gray, who said the administration sought efficiencies while protecting classroom instruction. "We're introducing a budget tonight that is balanced and fiscally responsible," Miss Gray said, outlining revenue pressures from rising costs, shifting enrollment and limits on state aid that left the district with no budgeted fund balance for 2026–27.

The nut graf: Board members pressed staff about student losses and charter-school tuition, which Miss Gray identified as a required, pass-through expense. The presentation listed charter tuition at roughly $188 million and cited about 8,888 charter seats; presenters also described multi-year state-aid caps that reduced available revenue and said an 8% proposed tax-levy increase would cost an average homeowner about $143 next year.

Board discussion focused on enrollment tracking and staffing risks. Commissioners sought clarity on a reported loss of about 1,900 students last year and asked where departing students were going. The superintendent said staff would consult guidance counselors to better track transfers and families who leave. Assistant Superintendent Rojas warned that, in a worst-case scenario if the budget were defeated, cuts could affect "a couple hundred" positions across administrators, central staff and schools — a prospect the board said it was trying to avoid by prioritizing classroom staffing.

Commissioner Simmons, who voted no, said she could not "in good conscience" approve the preliminary budget because she had not seen multiple scenarios and clear priorities in advance. Commissioner Teague also voted no. The motion passed with Commissioners McCall, Mendez, Nieves, Rashid, Rosado, Freeman and Ramirez voting yes.

Public comment after the vote underscored community alarm over related plans to repurpose four choice schools. Charles Freire asked the board to reconcile the district's charter expenditures with enrollment, calculating a per‑pupil figure from the numbers presented and asking whether the budget accounts for students who might leave because of school changes. "What is the real number for our general‑education students that remain in Paterson Public School?" he asked. Parent Sonia Shabazz urged the board to halt the repurposings, saying displacing students would damage education and sharply criticizing officials' accuracy on teacher pay and staffing.

The meeting record shows the board will advertise the preliminary budget as required and hold a public hearing on May 4, 2026. The resolution approved also reaffirmed the district's travel‑expenditure cap previously set on Jan. 7, 2026. The board adjourned after completing its agenda.

Votes at a glance: preliminary 2026–27 budget — approved, 7 yes, 2 no (Simmons, Teague).