Mount Arlington board schedules Jan. 27 referendum amid community questions about $975,000 plan

The Mount Arlington Board of Education set a public referendum for Jan. 27, 2026 after Interim Superintendent Thomas Ficarra presented details of a funding plan tied to $975,000 and answered questions during the district's public session.

District officials presented the measure and discussed next steps during the Dec. 17 regular meeting. Members of the public pressed officials on whether $975,000 would be adequate in subsequent years; according to the minutes, Ficarra said the district is looking to streamline costs to help preserve future budgets. A student asked whether a district fundraiser could be held to raise additional funds.

Why it matters: The referendum would put a funding plan before local voters; its passage or defeat will shape budget decisions for the coming school year and could require the district to make operating adjustments if revenues fall short.

What the board said and what residents asked: The minutes record a public Q&A after the presentation in which residents and a student asked about both the immediate funding level and the district's long-term fiscal plan. The superintendent's response emphasized cost reductions and budget discipline rather than committing to a specific additional revenue source.

Related community concerns: At the meeting, residents also raised questions about how recent and proposed municipal PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) proposals discussed at Town Council would affect school funding. The minutes show residents were assured that those PILOTs would not provide funding to the district; the board did not adopt any formal policy change on that point at this meeting.

Next steps: The referendum will be placed on the ballot Jan. 27, 2026. The board will continue routine budget and planning work leading up to the vote; the minutes do not record a formal board decision to alter the proposed referendum amount before the vote.

The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.