Lacey Township School Board Approves Tentative Budget Amid Major Cuts
Lacey Township, NJ – The Lacey Township School Board has approved a tentative budget aimed at restoring sports and after-school activities previously threatened by significant budget cuts. However, this move comes in the face of a daunting $6.5 million shortfall, prompting difficult compromises for the district.
School administrators describe the budget as less than ideal, emphasizing it as a necessary compromise to maintain local governance rather than yield to state oversight. While the new budget includes a 7.5% tax increase—lower than originally proposed—it also means sizes of classes are expected to exceed 30 students at all educational levels, reaching as high as 38 in some high school classes. Additionally, there will be no salary increases for staff, and all elementary schools will undergo restructuring, with courtesy busing for the youngest students set to be eliminated.
Public comments at the budget meeting became a heated debate over the prioritization of tax increases versus the preservation of student activities. Former board member Regina Discenza noted the town’s demographics, pointing out, “There are 28,000 people in this town and 4,000 students; you do the ratio.” In contrast, a current teacher passionately argued, “Every single one of those kids is worth me opening my wallet and paying more in taxes.”
Many participants acknowledged the significant role of state funding cuts in the district’s fiscal predicament, as Lacey Township has lost approximately $14 million in state funding over the past eight years, resulting in the elimination of 173 positions. As the district navigates this financial crisis, community members remain divided on how best to support its students amidst tightening resources.
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