WEBVTT METADATA Video-Count: 1 Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=X_-_iPoJv1s NOTE MEETING SECTIONS: Part 1 (Video ID: X_-_iPoJv1s): - 00:03:44: Meeting Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance - 00:06:02: Open Public Hearing Introduction: 2026-2027 Budget Details - 00:07:10: Budget Presentation Begins: Vision, Goals, and Timeline - 00:17:54: Detailed Budget Review: Revenues, Expenses, Tax Levy - 00:43:53: Public Comments on the 2026-2027 Budget Begin - 00:46:35: Public Comment: Wong Borough Education Association Support - 00:49:09: Close Hearing; Board Discussion and Budget Adoption Part: 1 1 00:03:44.480 --> 00:04:02.680 Okay. Good evening everyone. I call to order a meeting of the Wong Burough School District Board of Education. It's May 5th at 7 p.m. or 7:04 p.m. Um uh let's uh have the pledge of allegiance. 2 00:04:05.680 --> 00:04:22.359 Oh, there's the flag. Okay. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 3 00:04:26.240 --> 00:04:42.800 >> Okay. Welcome to a meeting of the board of education of the Bureau of Wong. Please be advised that this and all meetings of the board are open to the public and media consistent with the open public meetings act chapter 231 laws of 1975 and that the advanced notice required 4 00:04:42.800 --> 00:04:59.040 therein has been provided. This is a regular meeting of the board of education of the bureau of watch at which formal action may be taken. This meeting is being livereamed on the district website where a recording of the meeting also will be posted. The public will have an opportunity to be heard as shown on the agenda at points 5 00:04:59.040 --> 00:05:13.919 in the meeting provided for the public to address. The board recording or photographing other than for private personal use requires the consent of parents and guardians whose children may be included in the image. Quick point of order. Dr. Glazer, there was some new 6 00:05:13.919 --> 00:05:31.520 language in this paragraph in the last meeting. Do we need to add anything here about exactly where it was published? >> I would be care. Yeah, we'd have to I'd have to look that up, but it was published on the website in March on March 17th. 7 00:05:31.520 --> 00:05:47.120 >> Okay. >> I' Yeah, I'd have to look up the exact wording. >> Okay. Just check if we need to update this. >> Okay. Forward. Yeah. Okay. Can we have when you're ready, we'll have a roll call. Thank you. >> Um, Mrs. Agliero >> here. >> Okay. Let's see. Mr. Craft 8 00:05:47.120 --> 00:06:02.160 >> here. >> Mrs. Maddox >> here. >> Mrs. Marcellis >> here. >> Mrs. Santos >> here. Okay, Mrs. Amado here. >> Mr. Desaniano, Mrs. Harvey, and Mr. Trick are absent. 9 00:06:02.160 --> 00:06:18.319 >> Okay. We will now begin the open public hearing on the 26 2026 2027 budget. This is the required public hearing on uh the 2026 2027 annual budget. The budget was advertised, approved as a tentative budget and submitted to the executive 10 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:39.759 county superintendent in accordance with NJSA18A22-8 and NJAC 6A23A-8.1. So, at this point in time, um, the open public hearing allows for the public to ask questions about the budget. That's different from how we've done it in the 11 00:06:39.759 --> 00:06:54.960 past and it's different from the public comments section. Um this is the opportunity after the presentation is given for anyone to stand up and ask specific questions and then um when we have public comments that is those questions cannot be answered. So that's 12 00:06:54.960 --> 00:07:10.080 comments only. Does that make sense to everyone? So we're trying to separate out questions from comments as part of sort of the the structure of the meeting. All right. So I'd love to call Dr. Glazer and Miss Bis Bishop Johnson 13 00:07:10.080 --> 00:07:39.120 for the budget presentation. Do you need my computer? You got Nippers. Welcome everybody. Thank you. We like to have an audience when we're talking about the budget. So, we appreciate you being here. Um this is as um as Amado 14 00:07:39.120 --> 00:07:55.199 said the presentation of the final budget for the 2627 school year. Um just in case I do see some people we don't know. Um I'm Julie Glazer. I am the superintendent of schools. Karen Bishop 15 00:07:55.199 --> 00:08:11.919 Johnson, our business administrator and board secretary. Um this um final budget is u a little bit different than previous because we've had a longer period of time between the tenative budget and the 16 00:08:11.919 --> 00:08:28.960 final budget presentation. Having um that time really allowed us the opportunity to look at lines closely continue our practice of looking beyond this budget into the next one. Um the board's had the opportunity to continue 17 00:08:28.960 --> 00:08:46.000 to discuss and ask questions and tonight um we bring you our very most informed decisions and recommendations to the community. Um during the tenative budget presentation, we spoke about the 18 00:08:46.000 --> 00:09:01.839 deficits from almost three years ago, the decisions that were made um prior to my two and a half years. Karen's two years here in the district and the work that has been done um diligent work I 19 00:09:01.839 --> 00:09:19.519 will say um by the two of us as well as the board of education to overcome many um issues that we inherited and again tonight we're talking about the 2000 2000 wow 2027 20 00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:36.320 um budget we don't just build a one-year budget uh the budget is the result of our strategic planning that intentional decisionmaking. Um, and we do continue to be proactive and realistic while we're considering um 21 00:09:36.320 --> 00:09:50.160 the strengths and needs of the district and plan for the future. Obviously, we've continued to prioritize the funds available based on our fixed cost projections and Karen will talk about 22 00:09:50.160 --> 00:10:08.959 that in some detail um in just a minute. As long as Aaron goes, I'm I'm okay. Thanks, Aaron. Um, just for some of our compliance pieces, this is our district vision. We updated it during our 23 00:10:08.959 --> 00:10:26.240 strategic planning and um made academic success an included part of um what our expectations are in this community. Can keep going, Erin. We Oh, there you go. 24 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:44.000 Um, again, our strategic plan goals are the umbrella for our district and board goals. Our budget goals that we'll review in just a second, also align with these strategic plan and district goals. Each component, there are four goals. 25 00:10:44.000 --> 00:11:00.000 Each component complements the others, whether it's strategic plan, district goals, board of ed goals, or our budget goals. And we are here to ensure that um over the next three to five years 26 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:17.040 stakeholder engagement, student achievement, operational efficiency are all prioritized and collectively we work towards creating the supportive um effective educational environment that 27 00:11:17.040 --> 00:11:32.720 the Wong Burough school district and community um not just visions and set a future for but that can be sustainable for upcoming years academic and otherwise. 28 00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:49.279 One more. Thanks. Our district goals also keep going. We again some compliance some some review our budget timeline. Um, we do need to 29 00:11:49.279 --> 00:12:05.360 go through again when you're seeing this budget development begins in November. We work with the leadership team to have a draft by February when we would typically receive the governor's um state aid numbers. The tenative budget 30 00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:22.160 was submitted um on time to the executive county superintendent by that March 27th for approval. And then um we and the board continued to refine um that budget document through April. 31 00:12:22.160 --> 00:12:36.959 Following the approval tonight, the user-friendly budget will be posted no later than May 7th. All of our staffing will be finalized um with the budget and by May 15th and the reappoint agenda will be voted on 32 00:12:36.959 --> 00:12:56.959 Thursday, May 21st at the next board meeting. um our budget overview. Again, Karen will detail the um revenues and expenditures that support our budget goals. This has been amended since the um 33 00:12:56.959 --> 00:13:12.639 tenative budget for the final budget, not the objectives, just the the revenues and expenditures. Aaron or Karen, whoever is clicking, who's ever in charge of our clicker? Um, 34 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:29.120 our budget objectives, again, we are here to sustain what we've restored, what we've built while continuing to support and grow new initiatives and systems. Um, our budget um priorities, 35 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:44.639 maintaining our current class sizes. This has been a priority for our past three budgets. You've heard us talk about the regionalization study and our projected enrollment growth. This budget currently reflects enrollment based on 36 00:13:44.639 --> 00:14:00.160 birth rate data. It does consider the impact of new developments and single family turnover. Um we'll be continuing to talk about demographic studies um with the bureau and with the community 37 00:14:00.160 --> 00:14:16.639 in more detail. Um the other piece of this that um bears mentioning and prioritizing is generating revenue. It's really a critical area of study um going forward in particular. 38 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:33.360 We need to be able to um build our reserves. The current revenue is again Karen will detail more from the tenative budget to now cannot keep pace with the exponential 39 00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:54.480 rise of fixed costs. So, we do need to um really be looking at each of those pieces. Next one. And again, our key decisions to u meet those objectives. Um last year, for 40 00:14:54.480 --> 00:15:10.560 instance, we um lost a kindergarten section, we had three. Our projection is to gain back one this year to go up to four. Um, those are some of the ways to keep our class sizes stable. We have 41 00:15:10.560 --> 00:15:25.680 planned over the last three years to use our bank cap. This is the final year that those funds are available to us. Um, those funds are usually spent as one-time expenditures. Once that money is gone, it's gone. We we will, as I 42 00:15:25.680 --> 00:15:40.800 said, not have it available to us again next year. um the best educational research and best practices really guides what some of those one-time purchases are. Professional development 43 00:15:40.800 --> 00:15:57.360 and it is one of our um objectives and um bringing those program benefits back into the classroom remains um an objective and a priority. That PD investment in our staff and our teachers 44 00:15:57.360 --> 00:16:14.079 does show long-term improvement not just in classroom instruction and student achievement. It's also um a long-term upgrade in instructional strategies. We look at it for mentoring our non-tenured 45 00:16:14.079 --> 00:16:30.880 staff with our veteran staff. looking at our subject specific curriculum improvements. All of that is part of our professional learning. We aim to transform instructional practice and make it a sustainable investment. Um, at 46 00:16:30.880 --> 00:16:47.120 the last meeting, we were able to name Natalie White as our new supervisor of instruction. And part of Natalie's responsibilities in that role is to further this professional learning model, coaching model. um mentoring 47 00:16:47.120 --> 00:17:04.640 inhouse. So, it is a sustainable investment. Other types of one-time expenditures um at the middle school, we've been piloting a science program for adoption in grades 6 to 8. Um we have our Bayberry resources in math and English 48 00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:20.640 language arts to continue our adoption from last year. This again is one-time expenditures. They do not continue. um assistive technology. Um that might include um uh learning adaptive systems 49 00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:37.280 like FM systems um texttospech technology, iPads for our younger students and again um prioritizing at every piece how to stabilize our 50 00:17:37.280 --> 00:17:54.160 operations, continue our staffing and support our services and purchase services. So, um, turning it over to you to talk about what's new since the tenative budget. 51 00:17:54.160 --> 00:18:12.559 >> Swap. All right. >> Okay. Okay. So, following the preliminary budget from March, uh we conducted a full review of the budget lines and incorporated updated information and verified all of the 52 00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:28.160 numbers that we had um at preliminary time found that this reduction um there was a reduction in health care costs that were directly that directly impacted the health care adjustment. So that was dollar for dollar and because 53 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:44.160 of that we were able to reduce the health care cost by 65,500 which reduced the healthc care adjustment and the local tax levy all at the same you know for the same amount at the same one adjustment for 54 00:18:44.160 --> 00:19:00.640 all of those things. So you reduce the health care cost that reduced the healthc care adjustment that reduced the uh local tax levy and therefore the percentage reduced. So that's that's the one um major change or you know that we made since the preliminary budget. The 55 00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:21.360 levy and the levy amount and the levy percentage were reduced but this did not impact student programs or services. Okay, let's see if this actually moves. Now I have to do two clicking. No, it's okay. I just have to do it 56 00:19:21.360 --> 00:19:37.440 twice. Um let's see if you can see that. So the um total re so expenses in the district have to match the revenues. That's the way that um that's the way that these budgets work. And so what we'll a lot of times what we'll do is 57 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:53.280 you'll start you'll figure out what do we need to keep the school running the way we wanted to to meet the goals next year. And that was determined to be about $21 million. So the revenues that we then need have to be $21 million. 58 00:19:53.280 --> 00:20:08.240 This chart just shows how the district is funded. The majority of the revenue, which is about 77% comes from the local tax levy. That is that's funding our school, the local taxes. State aid is 59 00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:24.240 making up barely 6%. The amount of money fund that we ended up left over from last year is a little under 6%. And then you have some local and some grants making up the rest. So that majority 60 00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:44.320 really does come from the taxpayers. Looking at this screen, this shows you that over the past three years and there's been some fluctuations in the category, but in general, the state aid has been decreasing. where it used 61 00:20:44.320 --> 00:20:59.919 to fund just three years ago in the 2425 budget. Actually, it's only two years, 7.7% of the budget. Now, it's only going to fund 5.94 because our state aid has been decreasing and 62 00:20:59.919 --> 00:21:17.760 our costs are not decreasing. So, now we need more from the local taxpayers to do the, you know, to be able to um have our programs and fund the way we wanted to. This is just a graph on the next screen 63 00:21:17.760 --> 00:21:39.679 showing you what that looks like. So, so you know, just a picture of how much of it comes from the local tax levy. Okay, these are this is like a detailed revenue screen and this will be a lot easier to see if you look at the 64 00:21:39.679 --> 00:21:55.440 user-friendly budget which we'll post online in the next, you know, day or so. Um mainly the major um something I want to majorly point out here is that when it says the FY26 revised budget, that's 65 00:21:55.440 --> 00:22:12.320 a certain point in time. That's actually um February 1st, which is the state law. So even though you may see a big change plus or minus, and you'll see this on the expenses, it really is at a point in time. And I just want the only reason I emphasize that is because a lot of times 66 00:22:12.320 --> 00:22:29.600 people will look at it and be like, "Oh, why did that decrease so much?" Well, on February 1st, it may have been a different number than what it would be on June 30th. And that's, you know, the end of our year and the audits done. And when you see actual numbers, that's really when you know it. But we do show 67 00:22:29.600 --> 00:22:45.280 this. It is in the um user friendly budget. So I do want to include it. You can see that like the federal aid down 30%. That's something to note. You know, I'm budgeting very conservatively at only 70% of what we got last year. 68 00:22:45.280 --> 00:23:00.880 There's really no way to know how much we'll receive from the government this year. And that's, you know, that's pretty much, you know, state aid looks like it went up even though I just told you it went down, but that's because state aid includes some extraordinary aid, which 69 00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:15.760 is different. It's a different aid, and we don't um generally we don't budget all of it, but this year we're budgeting all of it. So, it looks like it increased, but really it's the budget of the extraordinary aid. So that's that's 70 00:23:15.760 --> 00:23:30.960 a little bit more of a complicated concept, but it's out there. So I do want to say it in case anybody has any questions. This is uh again same thing graph of graph of 71 00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:54.720 all of all of that just so you can see how that looks. And that is not in the right spot. Okay. Yeah, I know. It's It's odd. Uh I don't like where that is. >> Yeah, that's not 72 00:23:54.720 --> 00:24:17.200 Nope. It's It's like moving. >> Okay, let's see. Hold on one. Let me just catch up with my Okay. Okay. Yeah. No, I know. No, it's okay. It's just um 73 00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:33.520 these are our expenses and let me I'm going to switch screens. Hold on one second because I don't like the screen here. No, it's fine. It's it's just for some reason some of these slides have moved a bit. So, I just want to make this make more sense. Okay, 74 00:24:33.520 --> 00:24:50.080 these are expense categories uh for this year. I highlighted the ones that are are our our biggest drivers of the expenses. Um you can see that that is our regular programs instruction and our 75 00:24:50.080 --> 00:25:06.880 special ed instruction and our employee benefits. The instruction numbers the first two regular and special ed also include salaries of the you know staff in in those lines. So you see um you can see 76 00:25:06.880 --> 00:25:22.080 where you know the majority of our 21 million is. So it's in the regular regular programs are um all of you know the everything it costs to instruct a student in a regular program. Same thing with special ed. Employee benefits are 77 00:25:22.080 --> 00:25:36.640 um are a very big driver this year mainly because of healthcare as you've all heard already and transportation and um operations are also you know up there. The rest of it just makes makes up the 78 00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:59.919 difference of that 21 million. looking at that on a um graph which does not mirror my computer which I don't get but it's the next screen on mine but looking at that on a graph um 79 00:25:59.919 --> 00:26:16.200 you have you know just just to show you like the special education you could see is 22% it just shows regular education 30% employee benefits it just shows you basically the percents and what makes up that whole budget of $21 million. 80 00:26:20.880 --> 00:26:39.600 Okay, let's go. I think we're going to the left. Maybe we're going to the right. Okay, this is our per pupil spending. Um, we did this we we do this every year. This basically gives a uh 81 00:26:39.600 --> 00:26:56.000 comparison of other districts K to8 who have you know K to8 districts with enrollment of 401 to 750 students. So it's comparable. It's not an exhaustive picture of the 82 00:26:56.000 --> 00:27:12.880 entire cost of educating students but it does allow for citizens and administrators to compare specific um measures. And generally what you're going to see in these in these numbers is um classroom instruction, support services, 83 00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:29.840 administrative operations, maintenance, things that are uniform throughout the districts. This comes from the taxpayers's guide to education spending. They're always a little behind us. So the best we can do right now is to get 2324 actual numbers, but then the next 84 00:27:29.840 --> 00:27:46.960 two years are budgeted. Next year you'll see the 2425 will come out as actual when um they gather up all their data and it'll start to look a little bit more you know more in the time that Dr. Glazer and I have been here we'll start to see it a little bit more. So you can 85 00:27:46.960 --> 00:28:03.919 see that you know that's we are blue um the Wong district is blue. You can see that we have been uh increasing our per pupil spending over the last you know 3 four years and that really was the intention. We did want to get closer. 86 00:28:03.919 --> 00:28:21.760 The gray bar is state average again in the 401 to 750 enrollment. We did want to get above the average or at least close enough to the average where we were able to put enough uh funding into our student programs. So we we are on 87 00:28:21.760 --> 00:28:38.159 you know we are doing uh well with that. The next slide is showing the sending districts. Now these are not 401 to 750. So, you know, you have to kind of take it with a grain of salt, but this is all of the sending districts and it's 88 00:28:38.159 --> 00:28:55.360 showing how much um you know, the per pupil spending is again. So, we are what is you know, we are like the purple color that's supposed to be blue. It's blue over here. >> Our goal growing, >> but we are. Yes. And we are growing. We 89 00:28:55.360 --> 00:29:11.840 are we are growing it. We were, you know, much lower in 22 23 and every year we've been increasing it. You know, we're we are um, you know, we're we're doing what we wanted to do. We are we are moving up. We are definitely moving 90 00:29:11.840 --> 00:29:33.279 our, you know, cost spending per pupil up. Okay, let's see. We'll go find so significant fixed costs um that are in our expenses. These are the most significant and again these are also at 91 00:29:33.279 --> 00:29:48.320 a point in time. So when you look at this if you know if we ran another report tomorrow it's not going to exactly be the same but it's close. It's a February 1st 2526 coupled with the budgeted you know 26 27. So you can see 92 00:29:48.320 --> 00:30:05.919 you know that salaries are um salaries and benefits have increased um mainly that's the benefit you know we did uh have a negotiated contract this year so we all know that there's you know the built-in average of 3.55% for all staff in there and and of course the 93 00:30:05.919 --> 00:30:20.960 healthcare transportation you know is going up it usually goes up by CPI every year um that's the consumer price index it looks like our regular transportation may come in a little under but our special education transportation is 94 00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:37.200 going to come in over. So I think that's a pretty good average. These are you know hence the reason I call it a budget. It's like a best guess at this point in time the best estimate. These are the fixed and non-discretionary costs. We can't really reduce these. The 95 00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:53.200 only way to reduce these type of costs or reduce our budget we'd keep the cost and we'd end up having to impact a staffing or student services or other programs. This year we have not done that. This does drive the majority of our 96 00:30:53.200 --> 00:31:12.399 budget. These fixed costs. Okay. Again, this is just type also. Oops. Sorry. Have to do this. This also just basically shows you the percentage. So medical and dental you know right there 97 00:31:12.399 --> 00:31:29.279 is is very high increase this year um at 21.5 average salaries are close to what I just said the 3.6% 6% utilities are uh through the roof this year at you know especially the electric um and transportation costs you 98 00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:50.600 know on the special education side are u insurance generally goes up 10 to 15% a year and our out of district tuition and support services this year did um did increase uh rather strongly okay 99 00:31:50.799 --> 00:32:08.080 when you look at a graph of health care and it's a little bit hard to see those numbers but you'll be able to see them online. You can the white bars is is the amount that the district pays for healthcare over the last you know since 2022 2023. The health care has gone from 100 00:32:08.080 --> 00:32:24.240 2.4 million in the 23 school year to estimated at you know 3.5 3.6 million this year. It's very high. The red shows you the amount of the contributions that the employees make. So you can see that 101 00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:51.039 the district is is having to absorb a tremendous amount of the health care costs. Chapter 44 required that the employee health benefit contributions were calculated as a percentage of salary rather than a 102 00:32:51.039 --> 00:33:06.799 percentage of premiums. The premium growth exceeded the salary growth. So that's another way of saying or showing why the district has to absorb such a large share. Chapter 44 will sunset at the end of the 2027 school year. So, 103 00:33:06.799 --> 00:33:28.720 we'll have to see what happens. >> Right. Right. These are the total expenses and this is similar to what I said before. Um, this is at a point in time. So, it's February 1st compared to the proposed budget. So 104 00:33:28.720 --> 00:33:45.919 if you see a fluctuation that may not look like, you know, looks a little bit um too, you know, too broad, it could very well just be that we were out at the end of the year, but that's that's the way that these budgets are presented. There is um the only, you know, you will 105 00:33:45.919 --> 00:34:03.039 see and in I did want to point out that regular program in the instruction it does look like it went down, but that's because last year we had a lot of um we had budgeted and bought a lot of textbooks. That was a lot of money. So when you brought take out the textbooks, it looks like the instruction decreased. 106 00:34:03.039 --> 00:34:20.159 But it really it did not because we don't need textbooks every year. And you see the same on the next screen. Same metics. You can see at the bottom though on the on the proposed budget in the second 107 00:34:20.159 --> 00:34:40.240 column that our operating expenses is 21 million, the same as the revenue. So it has to be the same. So then we get to the calculation of the tax levy. And the reason we are 108 00:34:40.240 --> 00:34:58.160 requesting more this year is because of everything I just said about the fixed costs and how much how much it's costing us to keep our programs the way that you know we've our our goals have you know um identified our 2% 109 00:34:58.160 --> 00:35:13.760 is $34,000 a little bit rounded 304,000 and we have the bank cap um that's expiring this year that Dr. Glaer just explained and that adds 258,000 or 257 and then we have the healthc care 110 00:35:13.760 --> 00:35:30.960 adjustment and the and as we went over um during the preliminary budget we are allowed to take an adjustment for a certain amount of health care expenses. Unfortunately, because they're so high, it's making for a very large uh 111 00:35:30.960 --> 00:35:47.680 healthcare adjustment. So the total additional taxes we're asking for this year is a million587. So they were last year 15,190 and then the 2% the extra bank cap and 112 00:35:47.680 --> 00:36:05.119 the healthc care adjustment brings it to 16,249. The healthcare adjustment is just basically a wash. Take that money plus extra money and just pay the pay the bills all year. The bank cap, as Dr. Glazer explained, will be paying for 113 00:36:05.119 --> 00:36:29.359 those one-time expenses, and the 2% will just fund our general operating budget. The in this just really shows you that the increase is 754,000. So I didn't take the 2%. I'm saying 114 00:36:29.359 --> 00:36:46.640 above the 2% is a 4.97% additional ask. And that again is the fixed cost, the health care, the salaries, the utilities, the same thing to maintain those current programs and services and avoid reductions that would impact students. 115 00:36:46.640 --> 00:37:08.880 This is necessary to maintain the level of education our community expense expects while continuing to manage the costs responsibly. This is the tax calculation. a little bit hard to see, but what it's 116 00:37:08.880 --> 00:37:25.920 what it's telling you at at the end is that um let me just see the better way to explain this is that the taxes, as I just said, are are going, you know, they're going to be 16 million, but on this screen, you're seeing 17 because I 117 00:37:25.920 --> 00:37:40.640 included the debt repayment. So, we have the referendum and the debt is in there, which really would be the total impact to the um the homeowners here, the taxpayers. The increase is basically 118 00:37:40.640 --> 00:37:57.920 $220 a year for a t um a home that's um averages of a million or $998,000, but it's close enough to a million. So, it's $220 a year. It comes out to about $18 a month. I do have a calculation there. If 119 00:37:57.920 --> 00:38:13.839 you own a home in Wong and you know your assessed value, you can multiply it by that 0.000022 and you can get your increase. That's how that's how you would do that. We did um review that in the tentative 120 00:38:13.839 --> 00:38:29.200 too. So, I think um everybody pretty much, you know, probably don't want to hear that again, but these are the um average school taxes for 2025. Again, this comes from the uh taxpayers's guide to 121 00:38:29.200 --> 00:38:46.240 educational spending. You can see Wong, it's showing not quite $6,000 last year. So, by the time, you know, we do our I hand in the taxes and I'll say it's like this year 6,600. Last year I said it was 6,300, but by the time they run all 122 00:38:46.240 --> 00:39:03.119 their formulas and again I'm at today or February one they're at a you know July it actually is a little bit lower but um that last year and that this is uh audited and on the website at you know $5,900 and the average um million-doll 123 00:39:03.119 --> 00:39:23.599 home. Last year the homes were a little less. This year they're a little higher. And the next the next screen just shows you how much of the taxes that are collected in watch on go to the schools. So the purple is going to the schools 124 00:39:23.599 --> 00:39:40.320 for Watchon, Greenbrook, Southbound Brook, Warren, Bedminster. They're there again our local nearby schools and the you know just surrounding towns. And then in the green is what the municipality keeps and then the yellow is the county 125 00:39:40.320 --> 00:39:56.960 share. So you can see how the taxes are distributed. We're right about 60% maybe maybe a tad tad less right around there a little bit right around 60%. That is the average um in New Jersey. New Jerseys is usually somewhere around you know 60 65% the 126 00:39:56.960 --> 00:40:22.160 average in New Jersey. So we we are there. Some of our districts are a little bit higher but they're still in the 60s. This is just another graph just showing um that you can see that the property taxes um the property values have been increasing you know pretty dramatically. 127 00:40:22.160 --> 00:40:40.480 They're 24% since 23 24 school year but at the same time the tax rate is decreasing by about 5%. But as the ratables increase, the tax base grows and so it keeps the school tax lower. So we do benefit from that. It also keeps 128 00:40:40.480 --> 00:40:55.920 the municipal taxes lower. So the municipality benefits too. But the rising costs are still impacting the overall tax bill. So we still need additional funds but the impact is is is 129 00:40:55.920 --> 00:41:15.359 less because the ratables are going up so so much. So this just shows you this is the tax rate per that you know $100 of an assessed house. So in 2425 it was 69 but by this year it's down to 66. So it will 130 00:41:15.359 --> 00:41:32.119 decrease as the how as the ratables increase and that >> it's stable regardless of our tax. >> Yes. Yes. Because we are not impacting we're not causing an impact to the you know to the taxes. 131 00:41:38.160 --> 00:41:52.720 So we've made obviously we make efforts to control spending. We we we try to um we put in efficiencies wherever possible. A lot of you out here know how you know how we're looking at purchase orders. We're checking vendors. We're 132 00:41:52.720 --> 00:42:09.440 really careful um trying to you know not spend any extra money. No taxpayers money. We you know really are stewards of those funds. We are trying to keep our spending as low as possible, but we are struggling with those rising costs 133 00:42:09.440 --> 00:42:25.200 of the health care and the salaries and our out of district placements and our utilities, but all of the school districts right now, and you see it in the paper every day, we're all in the same boat. So, we are um you know hoping that the state of New Jersey is going to 134 00:42:25.200 --> 00:42:40.000 uh help out the districts and the municipalities, you know, in the very near future. But managing these rates is just like I just said, trying this is just not, you know, we're not able to keep up with the rising costs. It's it's getting, you know, more and more 135 00:42:40.000 --> 00:43:00.240 difficult. Again, why we need the extra revenue and why we asked for the 6.9, you know, 7%. In the in summary, um this budget is reflecting, you know, the rising costs, the limited aid, and the continued 136 00:43:00.240 --> 00:43:14.960 efforts that we're making to manage that tax rate. And the proposed levy allows the district to maintain programs and services while remaining, you know, fiscally responsible. So, that's that's really the summary of this um this 137 00:43:14.960 --> 00:43:32.079 budget. And I think that's really it. I don't think we missed any slides here. Most of these slides we did go over are tentative, so they're not um necessarily 138 00:43:32.079 --> 00:43:52.200 anything new. Okay. >> Are there any questions from the audience, from the public? >> You just press it till the leg. Just hold it. >> Yeah. >> Does anybody have any? Yes. 139 00:43:53.440 --> 00:44:07.520 >> If there are no questions, we can move on to public comments. But I just want to say one more time that at that point um there's no requirement to answer questions. So just last chance if there are questions. Okay. 140 00:44:07.520 --> 00:44:24.240 So public comments on the 2026 2027 budget. We welcome input from the public. There are three times during the meeting when the public is invited to speak. The first opportunity to comment on the 2026 2027 budget is now 141 00:44:24.240 --> 00:44:41.200 >> three times. >> In a regular in a regular meeting, you would have the public comment on items on the agenda and then the additional comments not on the agenda. >> So three including this public hearing, you have >> comments on the budget 142 00:44:41.200 --> 00:44:57.280 >> questions. That's what I'm >> So this is the second time. >> Yes. >> Okay. This is the first opportunity to comment on the budget. The second opportunity for public comment will be on agenda items only and this will follow the committee reports. 143 00:44:57.280 --> 00:45:13.119 >> There aren't any, >> right? There are not any tonight. We really have to update this language. >> All this is our only business, >> right? No, I'm aware. Yes. Yes. Yes. So, um, the second opportunity for public comment will be on agenda items only. which is the budget also. 144 00:45:13.119 --> 00:45:28.960 >> This is the bud budget also. So there's no public comment option on any items. >> After the public comment, you'll have your opportunity for board comment before you close. >> I see. I see. Thank you. Sorry everyone. I should have read this in advance. >> Board comment and close. Right. You'll 145 00:45:28.960 --> 00:45:45.520 close the hearing. >> The third opportunity for public comment is towards the end of the meeting. Total time allotted for public comment is 30 minutes. Before you make your comment, please state your name and municipality of residence. In the event it appears the public comment portion of the meeting may exceed 30 minutes, the 146 00:45:45.520 --> 00:46:01.440 presiding officer may limit each statement made by a participant to three minutes duration. Our public forums are not structured as a question and answer session, but rather are offered as opportunities to share input with the board. In instances where the board feels a response is needed, the presiding officer or superintendent will 147 00:46:01.440 --> 00:46:16.960 address the comment. New Jersey statutes do not permit the board to discuss personnel or hiring in public session. Names of students should not be used. Members of the public should consider their comments in light of legal rights of those affected and identified in their comments and be aware that they 148 00:46:16.960 --> 00:46:35.359 are personally legally responsible with potential liability for comments that they make to the board. The board shall not be held liable for comments made by members of the public. Thank you for your patience. >> Good evening. Um I'm Susan Dillers. I am the co-president of the WBA and a 149 00:46:35.359 --> 00:46:52.400 language arts teacher here at Valley View. Um on behalf of the WBA, I want to express our appreciation for the proposed 2026 2027 budget. Thank you to Dr. Glazer and the board for always looking out for our students and keeping our professional community in mind. 150 00:46:52.400 --> 00:47:07.839 It's one thing to talk about creative problem solving and joyful learning, but seeing those ideas backed by the necessary resources is what matters. This budget feels like a practical roadmap to support continued growth for our students and staff. We are happy to see a budget that prioritizes ongoing 151 00:47:07.839 --> 00:47:24.160 professional development for the staff, providing us with the time and resources to develop new strategies and stay current with evolving technology demonstrates a clear commitment to our professional growth and ultimately enables us to better serve our students. Maintaining our current class sizes and 152 00:47:24.160 --> 00:47:40.960 staffing levels means a lot to us as well. This is what allows our students the individual attention they need to really flourish. We also appreciate the budget protecting the extracurricular opportunities for our students. A balanced and comprehensive school day keeps students engaged and excited to 153 00:47:40.960 --> 00:47:56.480 show up and provides them with opportunities to further develop their communication, time management, and social skills which are integral to a well-rounded education. We are also so excited about the new supervisor of instruction role. This role was established following last 154 00:47:56.480 --> 00:48:12.000 year's strategic planning meetings during which community members, staff, administration, the board, and students collectively recognized the need for a supervisor at this level. Thank you for making it happen. Choosing one of our own teachers for this was a fantastic call. Having an individual who is not 155 00:48:12.000 --> 00:48:28.319 only highly qualified for the role, but also deeply familiar with our students, staff, and the distinct character of our community is invaluable to ensuring strong instructional continuity across our schools and team. Finally, we recognize and appreciate your leadership in navigating the 156 00:48:28.319 --> 00:48:44.079 challenges of declining state aid and rising costs by balancing the budget while keeping the classroom a priority. You've ensured that we stayed focused on what matters most, the education and well-being of our students and staff. Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to working together to 157 00:48:44.079 --> 00:49:09.920 provide our students with the strongest possible foundation in an ever evolving world. >> Thank you so much. Any other public comments? Okay. Thank you so much to all the teachers who came tonight and 158 00:49:09.920 --> 00:49:28.079 administration who came tonight uh to support this budget. Um, we are now going to close the public hearing on the 2026 2027 budget and move into board discussion. Um, I will begin 159 00:49:28.079 --> 00:49:43.440 by saying that I am proud to support this 2026 2027 school budget, but I do not take this position lightly. I know that households are struggling right now. Our finance committee worked diligently these past few months alongside the administration to minimize 160 00:49:43.440 --> 00:49:58.640 this year's tax burden as much as possible and the numbers that you see today reflect this board's desire for a maintenance budget that will sustain current programming while trimming any fat we could find. In fact, as you saw in the presentation, um a requested 161 00:49:58.640 --> 00:50:15.920 total budget increase is less than the forecasted rise in basic fixed costs such as utilities and healthcare that are affecting district and municipal budgets statewide. Every new dollar received next year will go towards covering these unavoidable fixed costs, and we believe despite the gap that we 162 00:50:15.920 --> 00:50:32.800 can make ends meet. Additionally, the Watung Burough School District has been very transparent about our three-year plan to recapture revenue that was left on the table in prior years. The economic damage of failing to address operating cost inflation prior to 2024 has had the compounding and cumulative 163 00:50:32.800 --> 00:50:47.280 effect of incurred losses over many years. These losses created a significant budget gap budget gap that has been challenging to close and the work is still ongoing and this will be the final year of that plan and our banked capital request accounts for 164 00:50:47.280 --> 00:51:02.880 1.69% of our total increase. Up until just last year, per pupil spend in this district ranked at the bottom of county and peer lists in New Jersey. This extreme austerity was not sustainable and our schools have suffered for it with outdated materials, program cuts, 165 00:51:02.880 --> 00:51:19.839 and turnover. Watong residents deserve better and that is why we have been steadily rebuilding these past few years. If you tuned into our recent NJSLA presentation, then you know that we are already seeing positive results from this multi-year investment. Student 166 00:51:19.839 --> 00:51:35.839 performance is improving finally. It's exciting news and if we stay the course, I believe wholeheartedly that steady and continued growth is on the horizon. I am proud to say now that our district sits at the middle of per people pupil cost comparisons with peer districts. We have 167 00:51:35.839 --> 00:51:51.200 worked hard to balance conservative spending with the investment that watching families and children deserve. Finally, I'd like to thank Dr. Glazer and Miss Bishop Johnson for their hard work on this budget and for their deep and unwavering commitment to our community. I'd like to express my 168 00:51:51.200 --> 00:52:05.920 gratitude to the teachers and administration um several of which who are here this evening for the love and care you provide to our children every day. And a final thank you to everyone listening this evening and to the community broadly for attending and streaming our meetings for providing 169 00:52:05.920 --> 00:52:22.200 your feedback and for your presence and participation in the district. I'm deeply grateful for the support we have re received from so many families over these past few years. Thank you. Are there any other board comments or discussion? 170 00:52:22.240 --> 00:52:39.839 >> So, I wanted to um to briefly share um tonight my my vote decision. You know, I spent a a significant amount of time weighing the impact on our community taxpayers while considering what is necessary to support the education of our student. I approached this 171 00:52:39.839 --> 00:52:56.480 thoughtfully with respect to both perspectives, students and taxpayers. Uh reviewing this budget, I focused on uh maintaining stability, protecting the equality of our schools and making responsible long-term decisions for our district. One of my top considerations 172 00:52:56.480 --> 00:53:11.760 is retaining our staff. Strong schools depend on strong educators and support staff. To continue attracting and keeping highquality employees, we must ensure salaries remain competitive. Without that risk, we lose we value or 173 00:53:11.760 --> 00:53:28.400 we um we are at risk for losing valued staff to other districts, creating disruption for our students and also increasing cost associated with hiring and training replacements. Fixed costs, including health care, utilities, and contracted salaries are 174 00:53:28.400 --> 00:53:45.839 outpacing what this increase brings in, but it closes the gap without cutting programs or staff. Equally important, I consider the impact of not improving this increase. Without it, the desk the district would likely face difficult decisions, including reductions of our 175 00:53:45.839 --> 00:54:02.559 staff or cuts to student programs such as athletics or extracurricular activities. These are impacts that directly affect our students with the overall strength of our schools. For me, this decision comes down to balance while managing rising cost, retaining 176 00:54:02.559 --> 00:54:19.440 strong staff, and protecting student programs while remaining mindful of our impact to our community. Now, I understand that any tax increase matters, but I did not take this decision lightly, and the vote reflects what I believe is a responsible and 177 00:54:19.440 --> 00:54:38.480 sustainable path forward for our district. Um, we have several board members who were unable to make it tonight because of date changes to the calendar. I did have one um board member email me comments to make. So, uh, these comments 178 00:54:38.480 --> 00:54:54.079 are from Mr. Desano. Uh, though I am unable to attend tonight's meeting due to an unavoidable work commitment, I want to make clear that I am fully in support of the proposed budget. Though a 6% tax increase is more than some may expect, I believe it reflects the needs of our district and our commitment to 179 00:54:54.079 --> 00:55:11.280 excellence. I'm grateful to the operations committee and administration for the time and diligence they put into building this budget. Most importantly, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to our teachers whose dedication to our students is the true foundation of watching school district. While my vote does not count because he's not here, I 180 00:55:11.280 --> 00:55:31.680 Rich Desaniano vote yes for the proposed budget. Are there any other comments or thoughts? Okay. And with that, um, let's move to adopt the 2026 2027 181 00:55:31.680 --> 00:55:48.960 budget. Um, Jen, would you like to read and move item number 10? Sure. I move adoption of the 2026 2027 budget. A adjustment for healthcare costs at 182 00:55:48.960 --> 00:56:11.280 $497,694. B adjustment for bank cap $257,199. C. Authorized maximum travel expenditure. D. Authorized travel and related expense reimbursement for the 2026 2027 school year. >> Second. 183 00:56:11.280 --> 00:56:28.960 Mr. Craft seconds. Is there any further discussion? >> All right, let's have a roll call. >> Mrs. Maddox, >> yes. >> Mrs. Marcellis, >> yes. >> Mrs. Santos, >> yes. 184 00:56:28.960 --> 00:56:43.920 >> Mrs. Amado, >> yes. >> Mr. Craft, >> absolutely. >> And Mrs. Agliaro? >> Yes. >> Okay. Um, Mr. Desiano, as you know, Mrs. Harvey and Mr. Trick are absent, but the motion passes. 185 00:56:43.920 --> 00:57:04.720 >> Thank you all. Thank you everyone. Um, so there is no place for comments at the end. That's okay. Yes. Okay. Then >> move to. >> I have a motion to adjourn. >> So moved >> and a second. >> Second. 186 00:57:04.720 --> 00:57:11.559 >> All in favor? >> I. Good evening everyone. Good night.