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Pennsauken Board of Education approves $192.1 million 2026–27 budget, authorizes up to $11 million from capital reserve
Summary
At a May 5 special public hearing, the Pennsauken Township Board of Education approved the district's 2026–2027 budget totaling $192,114,072, authorized withdrawals from capital and maintenance reserves for facility projects, and awarded insurance and procurement contracts.
The Pennsauken Township Board of Education on May 5 approved the school district's 2026–2027 budget and a package of related spending and contract approvals.
Mr. Ogunkanmi, the School Business Administrator and Board Secretary, presented the fiscal plan and the board moved to approve agenda items 1 through 9, which include the budget, capital and maintenance reserve withdrawals, a purchase of doors and hardware, and awards for employee insurance contracts. The motion to approve was made by Mr. McDevitt and seconded by Mr. Alves and was recorded as carried in the meeting minutes.
The budget document lists these totals: General Fund $169,274,017; a General Fund grand total of $181,774,017 (after reserve transfers of $12,500,000); Special Revenue Fund $7,836,411; Debt Service Fund $2,503,644; for an overall total of $192,114,072. The document also lists Local Tax Levy amounts adjacent to the budget lines (shown as $47,964,314 and $49,844,311 in different rows of the agenda packet). The board asked for approval to increase the healthcare cost adjustment by $1,335,692 and indicated no increase in Banked Cap ($0 listed).
As part of the fiscal package, the board approved resolutions to: (1) set a maximum of $120,000 for staff and board travel and related professional development reimbursements for 2026–2027 (the agenda notes $38,710.31 had been expended to date); and (2) establish a $120,000 maximum budget for dissemination of public information in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-5.2.
Facility funding actions included board authorization to withdraw up to $11,000,000 from the district's Capital Reserve Fund to pay a portion of a multi-site capital improvement project described in the agenda (furniture for preschool and classroom additions, STEM labs, administrative offices, security vestibules, acquisition of land and property for bus depot relocation, and related improvements). The board also authorized withdrawal of up to $1,500,000 from the district's Maintenance Reserve Fund for projects such as asbestos floor replacement, multiple garage door replacements, asphalt and sealcoating work, ceiling and restroom partition replacements, cafeteria shade and door access control updates, and gym divider replacement.
The board approved a procurement to purchase doors, glazing and hardware for Pennsauken High School and Phifer Middle School from W. J. Gross, Inc., under the Camden County Educational Services Commission contract, not to exceed $97,160 and subject to 2025/2026 budget availability.
On employee benefits, the board recommended and approved awards from responses to EUS#27-01: a medical insurance contract with Schools Health Insurance Fund c/o Perma LLC (proposal listed at $22,539,480 in the procurement record), a prescription insurance contract to Benecard Services (proposal listed at $4,992,088.80), and a dental insurance contract with Delta Dental of New Jersey, Inc. (proposal shown at $803,567.40). The agenda materials and motions state the awards follow the Board's evaluation process and cite N.J.S.A. 18A procurement provisions for extraordinary unspecifiable services where applicable.
The board voted to convene in executive session for legal services interviews under N.J.S.A. 10:4-12; the public portion was recessed at 5:35 p.m. and the meeting reconvened at 8:30 p.m. During "Good of the Order," President Ms. Eckel thanked board members volunteering to deliver graduation speeches and announced upcoming events; the public hearing was formally adjourned at 8:38 p.m.
What the action means: the approved budget and authorized reserve withdrawals allow the district to begin planned capital and maintenance work and to set the district's operating funding for 2026'27; the insurance contract awards establish coverage for district employees for the coming year. The agenda packet lists specific project descriptions and procurement amounts for transparency. The board recorded the motions as carried; the minutes do not include a numeric vote tally in the public record for the listed motions.
