Wayne school board proposes layoffs to deal with $7.1M budget deficit
By: Philip DeVencentis
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
WAYNE - The Board of Education plans to close a $7.1 million budget shortfall by laying off as many as 40 employee and using in-house guards instead of police officers for school security, among other prose cutbacks.
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Reductions to the K-12 district budget for next school year [2025-2026] may also include the cancellation of $200,000 worth of subscriptions for computer software and the privatization of an extended-care program.
..... Schools Superintendent Mark Toback said the district intends to generate new revenue by charging fees for outside groups to use its buildings and for students who participate in extracurricular activities, including varsity sports.
..... Besides the 40 yet-to-be-determine faculty members whose jobs are proposed to be terminated the district workforce could be further reduced through retirement attrition as 18 positions may not be filled.
..... "Sometimes, my job isn't easy," said Toback, who is retiring this summer, [2025]
and "one of those times is when you have to deliver-news hat's not going to be well-received to in the community."
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Toback and school Business Administrator William Moffitt, who is also retiring, presented the tentative budget to trustees last week. [03/2082025]
..... The spending plan of $197.9 million is a fluid document, and it has not yet been approved. It is under review by the Passaic County schools superintendent before a schedule public hearing and vote on May 1. [2025]
..... The average homeowner in Wayne, with a property assessed at $231,227, would see an annual tax increase of $383 under the proposed budget.
..... The deficit comes a year after the district experienced a devastating defeat at the polls.
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Last March, [2024] votes rejected a $169.8 million bond referendum that would have funded projects at all 15 schools in the district. It included more than five dozen items, the largest of which was a $44.9 million addition to the Early Childhood Center at Preakness School.
..... But the referendum defeat is not the root cause of the district now having to make up such an enormous budget gap, Toback said.
..... Primary reason for the deficit are contractual increases in heath care benefits -$5.2 million - and salaries - $3.8 million. Another factor is a $6656,250 increase in tuition, which the district is obligate to pay for local student who attend Passaic County Technical Institute. Costs for special education and transportation are projected to go up by $1 million and $300,000, respectively.
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The district, meanwhile, is not slowed to raise property taxes by more than 2%, so the total tax levy - by far the largest source of revenue changes little form year to year. Under the tentative budget, it is proposed to be $176 million.
..... Officials said the deficit shaped thus year's [2025] budget will shape every budget in the future, Toback said. "The gap will continue to grow."
..... Other districts are facing similar financial struggles.
..... In Middletown Township, for example, a K-12 district of comparable size is gapping with a $10 million deficit, and officials there are seriously considering whether to shut down three schools. The regional district serving Bridgewater Township and Raritan is letting go of 33 faculty members.
..... Although the referendum defeat did not directly affect the propose budget, officials said it could impact the district's financial in the coming years because of a lack of available surplus.
..... The distinct has $9.4 million in its cash reserves, but Moffitt recommended that money be spent only to address emergencies - like unforeseen project at Lafayette School six months ago. Staff and students were preparing to return form summer recess, when a corroded sewer pipe burst under the building, costing $270,000 to repair.
..... "The budget next year [2025-2026] isn't going to be any better," said Donald Pavlak Jr., the school board president. "there's going to have to be some really tough decisions made, and I'll tell your now, they won't be popular. The rising costs are killing us."