Superintendent presents preliminary 2024–25 budget; tax levy to rise about 3.11%

Superintendent Doctor Fernery presented the West Milford Township Public School District's preliminary budget for the 2024–25 school year at the March 12 board meeting, saying the plan is aligned to the district's goals and strategic plan and uses a "needs versus wants" approach to limit classroom impacts from reductions.

Fernery told the board the tax levy in the draft budget is roughly $64.3 million, an increase she described as $1,938,982 (about 3.11%). Finance staff later presented the proposed operating budget total as $75,118,929, a reported increase of about $573,000 (roughly 0.77%) from the prior year's opening budget.

Why it matters: Fernery and finance staff said the district must absorb some positions previously paid through federal ESSER grant funds, which expire in September 2024. The presentation emphasized maintaining instructional staffing and funding state-mandated programs (including curriculum work tied to the Eureka Math Squared rollout, I-Ready diagnostics, and NJSLA readiness). Fernery said the district had received stabilization aid of "a little over $400,000" that will be used to help fund program changes.

Budget details and drivers: Presenters said salaries account for roughly 57% of total spending and benefits about 23%. Staff highlighted several cost pressures: special education and related services, transportation increases tied to outsourced special-education runs amid driver shortages, a new assistant-principal posting at Highlander Academy, and an estimated $450,000 in capital outlay for the UGL window and door project. Finance staff also described a multi-year decline in state aid and said the district would rely on prior-year surplus and targeted stabilization aid to smooth the budget.

Public reaction: During public comment, a resident from 34 2nd Street asked for clarification on slide 5 after seeing large percentage changes for some categories and raised concerns about whether changes reflected one-time adjustments. Another commenter praised the presentation as "a great budget, really extensive report," and urged the board to prioritize keeping students in district given transportation and tuition costs. A parent raised concerns about the I-Ready placement for a first-grade student, saying the child found assigned modules "too easy," and asked whether teachers could adjust diagnostic placement; the parent said teachers had been responsive.

Procedural next steps: The board was told the preliminary budget must be submitted to the county superintendent on or before March 20 for review, advertised on or before April 20, and that the public budget hearing is scheduled for the board's April 30 meeting. The presentation and slides will be posted to the district website.

Votes and routine business: The board approved a motion to close public comment by voice vote and adopted the meeting agenda and consent items as presented. Board members also moved personnel agenda items (1–20) and recorded roll-call votes for consent and personnel motions during the meeting.

What remains unresolved: The preliminary budget was presented for review; no final adoption of the 2024–25 budget occurred at this meeting. The county review and the April 30 public hearing will precede any final adoption.

Representative quotes

"The budget is aligned to the district goals and strategic plan," Superintendent Doctor Fernery said, emphasizing the district's focus on teaching and learning.

"That was a great budget, really extensive report," a public commenter said after the presentation.

A parent asked of I-Ready placement: "She's just clicking through the modules... this is too easy," describing a mismatch between the child's placement and expected grade-level work.