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Lopatcong Board adopts $26.9 million 2026–27 budget; approves vendor contracts, health plan change and personnel actions
Summary
The Lopatcong Township Board of Education approved a $26,866,090 budget for 2026–27, set aside reserves and approved a package of vendor contracts, personnel items and a change to the district medical provider to Cigna. Several contract increases and committee formations were also approved.
The Lopatcong Township Board of Education voted to adopt its 2026–2027 budget on May 7, approving a total spending plan of $26,866,090 and authorizing taxes to be raised of $17,615,007.
According to the resolution presented by Superintendent Israel Marmolejos and the Acting Business Administrator Gail Libby, the budget allocates $23,701,186 for general fund expenditures, $2,198,474 for special revenue, and $966,430 for debt service. The board included targeted reserve withdrawals: a $114,063 maintenance reserve withdrawal for property maintenance and repairs, an $8,740 capital reserve withdrawal recommended by the auditor to address a prior negative debt balance, and a $1,000,000 tuition reserve to offset out-of-district tuition costs. The board also established a maximum travel/professional development expenditure ceiling of $20,000 for 2026–2027.
The budget resolution (R-263-26) was approved by roll call: Pamela Thomas, Judy Liptak, Ernest Gallant, Julia Jones-Jasper, Megan Flynn, Bevin Nittel, Lauren Pierce and Joan Maingrette voted yes; Dr. John Severs was absent.
In a single roll call the board also approved a block of related finance and operational resolutions (R-264-26 through R-272-26). Actions in that block included authorizations to apply for the School Lead Filters Program and Extraordinary Special Education Aid (EXAID); vendor approvals and contract adjustments including a $1,600 independent evaluation contract with Graham Behavior Services LLC and contract increases for BKC auditors, Chris Cross Kids, LLC (increase to $70,000 for occupational therapy services) and Connective Intervention Services, LLC (increase to $46,300 for special education services). The board approved two tuition contracts with Phillipsburg BOE for specified student IDs and tuition rates as listed in the meeting materials.
The board authorized creation of an ad-hoc finance committee (R-271-26) comprising Ernest Gallant, Judy Liptak, Pamela Thomas and Joan Maingrette to meet monthly to review financial information. The board also approved a healthcare provider change to Cigna for the 2026–2027 school year (R-272-26) under contract provisions cited by the superintendent.
Personnel and governance items approved in the package included retirements and resignations (R-275-26), formation of an ad-hoc education committee (R-274-26), and second reading approval of policies on inappropriate staff conduct (R-276-26). The consent agenda (R-277-26 through R-286-26) approved minutes, payment of bills (grand total $5,982,320.06 across listed funds), transfers, certifications and hires including substitutes and paraprofessionals. One recorded partial abstention occurred on an approval of minutes item by Mrs. Bevin Nittel as noted in the roll call.
The meeting materials and minutes show that the board moved a Fallon invoice discussion to executive session after noting the invoice exceeded its previously approved amount.
Why it matters: The budget establishes the district’s spending and tax requirement for the coming school year, retains a $1 million tuition reserve for out-of-district placements, and includes modest reserve withdrawals to address maintenance and a prior accounting shortfall. Approval of vendor contract increases and the change of medical provider could affect service delivery and personnel enrollment options in 2026–2027.
Note on sourcing: The meeting record provided minutes-style text and did not include verbatim quote lines for many comments; attributions in this article paraphrase those minute entries to reflect who raised each point.
