Interim superintendent presents 2024–25 budget with 3.11% levy increase; board approves consent motions

The West Milford Township Public School District on Monday held a public budget hearing during which district leaders presented a $75,118,929 proposed operating budget for 2024–25 that officials say preserves classroom staffing while absorbing several positions formerly paid with federal ESSER funds.

Interim Superintendent Doctor Fanari told the board the package was developed to align with district goals and the strategic plan while limiting classroom impacts. "We were very, very fortunate with the amount of state aid that we received," the superintendent said, adding the budget team used reallocations and targeted hires to protect instruction.

Business official Mr. Schultz told the board the district has seen multi-year state-aid reductions tied to S-2 adjustments. "In total, we have lost $9,121,140 since 2017–18," he said, and noted a comparatively small decline of $81,537 for 2024–25 compared with the prior year.

Key elements of the budget include absorbing 0.5‑FTE positions previously funded by ESSER into local accounts (commonly encore, arts and some special‑education supports), adding a split physical-education position shared by the high school and McAfee Middle School to reduce very large class sizes, and a split Spanish position intended to ease overcrowding in language classes.

District leaders said salaries and benefits make up the bulk of costs: roughly 57% of the budget is salaries and about 23% is benefits. Health benefits were cited as a major driver of cost growth (presenters gave a health-benefit figure near $17.26 million). The administration estimated the general-fund tax levy increase — before debt service — at 3.11% (3.27% including debt service), which it said translates to an average assessed-home impact of about $187.71 annually, or roughly $15.64 per month.

Mr. Schultz also outlined nonpersonnel spending and revenue assumptions, including projected tuition and special-program costs, audited fund balances available for use, and an intent to roll over certain supplemental stabilization aid when possible.

After the presentation and a broad Q&A — which included questions about lab scheduling, a chemistry position included in the budget, health-insurance plan changes and encore staffing across elementary schools — the board moved through its consent agenda. The board approved grouped operations and finance motions, education and policy packets, and a large personnel omnibus; several members recorded abstentions on limited items as noted in the minutes.

Votes at a glance

- Operations & Finance: motions numbered in the meeting packet (moved and approved by roll call).
- Education: items 1–15 moved and approved by roll call.
- Policy: items 1–21 moved and approved by roll call.
- Personnel omnibus: items 1–66 moved and approved with recorded abstentions on specific items.
- Personnel actions taken after executive session included: approval of administrative leave with pay for employee 1170, retroactive to April 18, 2024, and a separate vote to withhold the 2024–25 salary increment for employee 1170.

The board was reminded of statutory posting requirements: once the board adopts a budget, it must post the approved budget to the district website within 48 hours of the public budget hearing and adoption. The budget calendar shown at the meeting listed the county’s approval and the May 2 posting deadline for the adopted budget package.