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Colts Neck Board approves tentative 2025–26 budget with 0% tax-levy increase and adopts opening-exercise policy
Summary
At its March 19 meeting the Colts Neck Township Board of Education adopted the district's tentative 2025—1 budget with a 0% tax levy increase, approved multiple routine finance and personnel items, and adopted policy 8820 to add the Star-Spangled Banner to the morning opening exercise.
The Colts Neck Township Board of Education on March 19 approved a package of routine business including the tentative 2025–26 budget that carries a 0% tax levy increase and a policy change to add the Star-Spangled Banner to daily opening exercises.
Why it matters: The tentative budget will be publicly available as part of the district's budget cycle and sets the parameters for the district's spending plan that will be discussed before final adoption. The new opening-exercise policy formalizes a change to the daily start-of-day routine that the board said it will explain to families.
The action: After discussion during the meeting's finance section, the board voted by roll call to approve finance items 1—8, which included the adoption of the tentative 2025—26 budget. The roll call recorded unanimous approval: Mrs. Cameron, Mrs. Horowitz, Mr. Or, Mrs. Ramirez, Mr. Reignetta, Mr. Scales, Mr. Scarpa, Mrs. Vulpi and Mr. Walsh voted yes. During the vote the business official, Vince, explained that monthly line-item transfers are standard budgetary practice and gave an example: transfers were needed to reappropriate funds to cover contracted substitute services for an autism program after resignations required contracted coverage rather than in-house staff.
On policy, the board approved policy items 1—2, including policy 8820. Board president Mrs. Vulpi said the board will communicate the rationale and details of the opening-exercise change to families.
Personnel and other routine items: The board approved superintendent action items and multiple personnel and curriculum items by roll call during the meeting. Personnel items 1—0 were approved with a recorded recusal: Mr. Ragnetta recused himself from items 3 and 4; the remainder of the personnel slate passed.
What board members said: During the finance discussion Vince summarized the transfers as part of the district's monthly financial process: "This is part of the monthly financials that we are required to submit for board approval," he said, explaining that transfers reallocate funds to meet service needs when staff changes occur. Board members asked follow-up questions about the district's relationship with the town and where additional municipal revenue might be directed; the board said it plans future meetings with town officials.
Next steps: The tentative budget now moves through the public review process required by New Jersey law before final adoption. The district will post the budget materials and continue scheduled hearings and votes per the public-notice requirements.
