LAKEHURST – The school district’s $13,731,188 budget was recently adopted following a budget presentation and public hearing, and unlike many districts, it features no increase in health insurance costs.
The district’s Business Administrator Joe Firetto made a PowerPoint presentation during a recent Board of Education meeting. For the taxpayer of a home valued at $254,000 (the township average, according to the Ocean Couty Board of Taxation and Lakehurst Tax Assessor’s Office) they will see a $5.72 per month increase in the school tax portion of the tax bill.
The budget featured a 6% increase in state aid. There was a 7.4% increase in total operating revenues rising from $10,941,286 to $11,745,925. It also notes a 12% decrease in Military Impact Aid per pupil – a 25.2% decrease in funding – which amounts to a loss of $161,149 in the last two years.
It includes a budgeted 10% decrease in State Grant Funding (26.4% budgeted decrease in the last two years). The spending plan also includes updated and new curriculum and 3% increase in per pupil spending a 12% increase in the last three years.
Enrollment in the school district has risen in recent years. In 2023 the district had a pre-kindergarten total of 71, elementary school students came in at 224, middle school students from 6-8th grade at 86 and 122 high school students that are sent out of district. The total number was 503 students.
This school year (2025-2026) there were 59 in Pre-K, 245 in elementary, 108 in middle school, and 118 in high school – a total of 530 pupils. The projected 2026-2027 school year has 82 pre-K students, 260 elementary school students, 113 middle school students, 123 high school students with a total of 578 students. Marking a 10.4% increase and a 19.42% increase since June of 2023.
The budget notes a 15.9% increase in utility costs. They were estimated for this current school year as $154,499 and estimated for the 2026-2027 school year to be $179,000. During the 2024-2025 year the actual utility costs was $142,836.
The budgetary cost per pupil (CPI) was $18,308 during the 2024-2025 school year. That number was budgeted for $18,634 per pupil in the current school year and were budgeted to $18,933 for the 2026-2027 school year. Costs of services in aggregate have gone up 10.3% over the last five fiscal years. CPI has gone up to 12.8% which is an increase in savings of 2.5% since July 2022 according to the school district.
Taxes to be raised from the budget totals $1,697,478. Included in the final budget was an adjustment for increased enrollment in the amount of $24,232. These additional funds will be used to pay for curriculum needs and special education funding. Health benefit costs were budgeted at $1,095,727 this year and for the new school year were budgeted to $1,099,017.
Firetto told The Manchester Times, “The district went out for an RFP (request for proposal) this fall for Health Benefits for our staff which were predicted (and confirmed) to increase 31.9%. Our district was able to secure a 0% increase in our new NJ Educators Horizon BCBS Plan through NJ Solutions until July 1, 2027. This move saved taxpayers the full 31.9% increase which would have resulted in a near Tax Levy of 35.5%.”
“Our district continues to remain committed to provide a quality education to every student as well planning for the future of our district and community. State and federal grants are anticipated to be cut again nearly 20% this year as well as Military Impact Aid has been cut again nearly 12% per the presentation,” he added.
Other Business
Board members approved a professional services agreement with TRANE Technologies not to exceed $170,269.40 as budgeted in the 2026-2027 budget. It will include the replacement of the gymnasium roof top unit at a cost of $152,479.87 and the mini-split control unit for the main server room at $17,789.53.
Also approved was the payment of bills dated April 28 totaling $1,316,845.41, accepting the secretary’s report for February 28 with a cash balance of $1,618,645.79 and the treasurer’s report for February 28 with a cash balance of $1,618,645.79.
The school district will also accept a Local Recreation Improvement Grant in the amount of $69,700 to be allocated for the removal playground equipment and installation of new equipment through Kompan Playgrounds.
The post Lakehurst School Budget Notes Tax Increase appeared first on Jersey Shore Online.
