Warren Hills board adopts $43.4 million tentative 2026-27 budget, sets $28.03M in local taxes

The Warren Hills Regional Board of Education adopted a tentative $43,402,200 school district budget for 2026-2027 on April 28, 2026, approving a tax levy of $28,026,628 to support general, special revenue and debt service needs.

The board approved the budget motion, moved by Jean Hansen and seconded by Lisa Marshall, by roll call. The budget shows total expenditures of $43,402,200 (General Fund $41,128,111; Special Revenues $548,357; Debt Service $1,725,732) and anticipated revenues of $15,375,572. The motion also included advertising the tentative budget on the district website and scheduling a public hearing as part of the board's procedures.

Why it matters: the budget funds operations, capital projects and debt service across the Warren Hills Regional School District and sets local tax obligations for the coming year. The board included a $490,445 health-care adjustment to be carried forward as banked cap for 2027-2028.

Key budget components and administrative limits included in the motion: - Capital reserve withdrawals totaling several planned projects: Middle School fire alarm panel upgrade ($500,000); High School roof replacement ($500,000); High School painting and floor refinish ($120,000); concrete repairs ($75,000); parking lots ($250,000); ramp/replacement and other facility work ($200,000). The motion lists these withdrawals by project and amount as part of the tentative budget. - Food service: the board renewed the food service management contract with Maschio's Food Services, Inc. for 2026-2027 with a Food Service Management Fee of $19,396.60, a projected profit of $40,535.66, a guarantee of $5,000 and a contract cost of $784,321.34. Proposed meal prices for the 2026-2027 school year were recorded: student breakfast $2.75, student lunch $3.75, adult lunch $4.25 (middle and high school price schedules are listed in the motion). - Transfers and bills: the board approved transfers of $804,527.77 and a bill list totaling $3,514,578.54 for the March 25-April 28 period; it also approved student activities bills and multiple home/bedside instruction agreements at stated hourly rates. - Administrative thresholds: the budget motion established a maximum travel expenditure of $50,000 for the district, a recommended annual travel threshold per employee of $1,500, and dollar limits for printing, legal, auditing and other professional services as required by N.J.A.C.

The motion to adopt and advertise the tentative budget was approved by roll call during the Board's April 28 meeting. The board also noted that the budget had been posted on the district's public notices webpage and that required public notice procedures were followed.

The board will continue any further required budget hearings or approvals in accordance with state law and district procedure.