East Windsor proposes $130.37 million tentative budget, schedules April 27 public hearing

The East Windsor Regional School District advanced a tentative 2026–27 budget that would set the district’s general fund at $130,372,188 and total budgeted spending at roughly $134.72 million, the board was told Tuesday.

Paul Todd, who led the district’s fiscal presentation, said the budget reflects “fiscal realities” including a drop in equalization aid. “We lost about $900,000 in state aid year‑over‑year,” Todd said, citing changes in the state aid formula and rising equalized property values.

The proposed levy to be raised locally is roughly $76.78 million under the plan presented to the board. Todd outlined how allowable levy growth is calculated — a 2 percent base adjustment, health‑benefit adjustments and use of any bank cap — and said the district’s five‑year average levy increase is about 2.5 percent.

District leaders said the budget aims to sustain programs and staffing without layoffs. The administration listed recent investments funded in prior years — HVAC upgrades, playground work, additional counselors and special‑education staff — and said the district will slow the pace of large capital projects unless outside funding or a referendum is secured. Officials noted remaining ROD‑grant funds and an anticipated roughly $6 million ROD‑funded HVAC project at the high school that requires local matching funds.

During public comment resident James Avon urged the board to adopt a parental‑opt‑out policy for district‑issued one‑to‑one devices and questioned both student screen time and the cost of device refreshes. “I was told my third grader will spend on average an hour on a device every day in school next year,” Avon said, and added that Chromebook replacement was discussed at a per‑unit price of about $460.

The board approved the routine agenda by roll call — which included the tentative budget — with board members voting yes. Following the meeting, the administration said the tentative budget will be submitted to the county for review and that a special public hearing is scheduled for April 27; the budget may be revised before final adoption following that review and any feedback.

Next steps: county review of the tentative budget, public hearing on April 27, and further board consideration before final adoption.