Rumson-Fair Haven board begins budget season, sets calendar toward March tentative budget

The Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School Board of Education on Jan. 23 received a preliminary budget overview from School Business Administrator Sean S. Cranston and set a calendar of public board presentations that lead to the adoption of the tentative budget.

Cranston outlined the district’s budget process and timeline: a Feb. 6 presentation (Budget Presentation #2), Feb. 20 presentation (Budget Presentation #3), March 5 presentation, March 12 adoption of the tentative budget and a March 20 submission of the tentative budget to the county. A final public hearing and adoption of the final budget is scheduled for April 23, with a user-friendly budget to be posted on the district website on April 25.

The superintendent’s report also recorded enrollment at 860 students as of Dec. 22, 2023. The budget calendar listed steps for program managers, staffing reviews, and revenue projections and noted that the district uses a line-item approach with program manager review and superintendent consultation ahead of the March tentative adoption.

Why this matters: The schedule establishes concrete steps and deadlines that affect staffing, programs and tax-related decisions for the 2024–25 school year. Community members interested in revenues, program changes, staffing levels and the tentative budget can attend the listed board presentations and the April public hearing.

What’s next: Board presentations are scheduled for Feb. 6 and Feb. 20; the board plans to adopt a tentative budget on March 12 and submit the budget to the county by March 20.