Hunterdon Central board adopts 2024–25 budget, cites state aid cuts and enrollment decline

The Hunterdon Central Regional High School District board on the night of the public hearing approved the district’s 2024–25 tentative budget and will forward the final documents to the county office for certification. The board’s roll call was unanimous.

Board presenters told members the district has absorbed roughly $1,130,000 in state-aid reductions over the past seven years, with a $31,000 year-over-year decline in the most recent allocation. Declining enrollment and shared-time programs at Hunterdon County Polytech -- where some students attend full day or shared-time technical programs -- reduce the district’s state-aidable enrollment, the presenter said. The presenter noted the district currently counts about 155 students whose attendance at Polytech affects funding and said tuition for those placements is “a little less than $12,000 a year per student.”

Health‑benefit changes under what the presenter described as “Chapter 44” (effective July 1, 2020) also have increased the district’s costs, the presentation said; the presenter estimated the district has absorbed about $240,000 in increased health‑benefit costs tied to the change. The district participates in the SHIFT school health‑insurance pool and reported initial savings of about $954,000 after joining, but presenters said recent and forecasted premium increases have reduced that relief.

Revenue for the district remains heavily dependent on the local tax levy (roughly 76–77% of revenue), the presentation said; the proposed levy increase of 1.75% is below New Jersey’s statutory 2% cap. The budget places an additional 2.25% in banked cap for future use, and the district reported approximately $263,000 in banked cap available at the close of the process.

Capital planning spans about $7.6 million in projects in the 2024–25 package; the presenter said the district applied for ROD (regular operating district) grants and received approval for 12 of 15 applications. The district expects up to 40% reimbursement on eligible ROD grant costs after project completion.

Votes at a glance
- Approval: 2024–25 school calendar and HIB report — Roll call unanimous (Blufffield: yes; Duggan: yes; Gong: yes; Kellogg: yes; O'Donnell: yes; Peterson: yes; Reimer: yes; Santangelo: yes; Fowler: yes). Motion carried.
- Student life items: summer session operation and retroactive approval of robotics overnight trip — Passed, roll call unanimous.
- Consent package (O and T items 1–14 including grants, procurement, donations, vendor second reading) — Passed, roll call unanimous.
- Personnel motions 1–39 (renewals, retirements and appointments) — Passed, roll call unanimous. Noted retirements: Heather Cole (26 years), Mary Daichler (21 years), Kathy Kane (40 years), Anthony Ricardella (25 years), Carol Smith (5 years).
- Budget resolution: Adopt 2024–25 budget and submit to county office — Passed, roll call unanimous.

Board members asked procedural questions during the hearing, including whether out‑of‑date policies could imperil funding; presenters said they knew of no immediate risk tied to the proposed budget but acknowledged some policy items may warrant review. The board will certify taxes through municipal clerks and implement the budget for the new fiscal year after county certification.

The meeting packet and oral presentation contained the specific line‑item and fund accounting details presented to the board; the budget as adopted will be transmitted to the Hunterdon County office and the state Department of Education for final processing.