Warren Hills board approves tentative $43.4 million 2026–27 budget, schedules April 28 public hearing

The Warren Hills Regional Board of Education on March 24 approved a tentative 2026–2027 budget of $43,402,200 and scheduled a public hearing on the proposal for April 28, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the district administration building.

The tentative budget lists total expenditures of $43,402,200 across General Fund, Special Revenues and Debt Service, with $26,300,896 in general fund taxes to be raised and $15,375,572 in anticipated revenues. The board also adopted an annual travel maximum of $1,500 per employee for regular business travel and established a $50,000 district maximum for travel expenditures by category.

Board members approved specific capital reserve withdrawals proposed in the tentative budget: $500,000 for a middle school fire alarm panel upgrade; $500,000 for a high school roof replacement; $250,000 for parking-lot work; $120,000 for high school gym painting and floor refinish; and $200,000 for an administration building ramp replacement. The motions also set professional-services dollar limits (for example, legal services up to $147,500) and a $35 per-student threshold for awards recognizing accomplishments.

Finance chair Amy Kemp presented the finance committee recommendations and the board moved the budget items for approval. The board voted to accept the Secretary and Treasurer’s January 2026 financial reports, a bill list totaling $4,244,297.27 for February 18–March 24, 2026, student activities bills of $19,924.69, and transfers of $505,162.69 for January 2026. The board also approved grants and vendor agreements listed in the agenda.

The district will post the tentative budget on its public notices page and allow public comment at the April 28 hearing. The administration said the tentative budget will be submitted to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools for review in accordance with New Jersey law (N.J.S.A.18A:7F-5; N.J.A.C.6A:23A).