Nutley Says It Has Saved Taxpayers Money By Partnering With School District

NUTLEY, NJ — An ongoing partnership between Nutley and its local school district has fueled infrastructure upgrades throughout the town, while also keeping the financial burden off the backs of taxpaying homeowners, officials say.

The township recently gave an update about the “One Nutley” campaign, which was launched a few years ago.

Through the shared service agreement, the town and district cooperate to make crucial renovations and upgrades at Nutley’s schools. Some examples of work produced under the partnership include exterior beatification and sidewalk renovations at Nutley High School, repairs at Lincoln School, and renovations to the multipurpose room and bleachers at Radcliffe School.

Another example is the work done at the Nutley Early Childhood Center, which opened last year and serves local 3 and 4-year-olds. The project addressed two major needs at once: creating a permanent home for the Nutley Board of Education and expanding early childhood education.

The project was completed in less than nine months, allowing the Early Development Center to open in September 2025 ahead of the middle school transition that followed this year.

The $1.9 million in middle school renovations was funded through $550,000 from the municipality, $150,000 in state aid and about $1.2 million provided by the school district.

“Taking a three-story building down to its shell and rebuilding it into a state-of-the-art early learning center and a permanent home for the board of education, in such a short time, is a remarkable achievement,” Township Commissioner Thomas Evans said.

With the Early Development Center open, the plan turned to its second major phase: interior renovations at John H. Walker Middle School. These were completed in time to welcome Nutley’s sixth grade class earlier this month.

Commissioner Joseph Scarpelli said both projects are proud milestones for Nutley.

“These achievements demonstrate what is possible when the board of commissioners and board of education unite their resources to build a stronger, more forward-thinking educational system for our students,” Scarpelli said.

“Our collaboration has enabled us to make meaningful progress in record time on one of our most important priorities: our children’s educational experience,” agreed another commissioner, Alphonse Petracco.

PROPERTY TAXES

State law limits the township’s ability to pay for the school district’s day-to-day expenses. However, the town is allowed to invest in school buildings, improvements and long-term planning – and that’s where One Nutley has focused its efforts.

According to township officials, the partnership has been using funding sources that don’t add to residential property tax bills.

State aid is funding the expansion of pre-K (ages 3-4) and early childhood education. And commercially sourced PILOT tax revenue – ratables generated by business and commercial properties, not homeowners – is funding capital projects such as school facility improvements and renovations.

“By relying on commercial ratables and state aid rather than a residential tax increase, we’re able to make the investments our schools need while protecting the people who live here,” Evans said.

According to Evans and the other commissioners, the partnership has helped the school district to avoid asking local taxpayers for a potentially pricy referendum.

“The district needed a viable, sustainable path forward, and our community deserved a solution that protected taxpayers,” Evans said. “One Nutley gives us that opportunity.”

Taxes and budgeting have been a controversial topic in Nutley over the past few years, with the school district experiencing budget woes that have led to staff cuts and the appointment of a state financial monitor.

Meanwhile, the town committee recently approved a 2026 municipal budget that includes a $340 tax increase for the average Nutley homeowner with a property valued at $494,786.

Property taxes in New Jersey are mainly made up of three parts: school, municipal and county.

The average Nutley resident will see a combined increase of roughly $800 this year when all sources are added together, counting the municipal increase, the school district’s $410 tax hike, and an estimated $50 county increase.

• Related: Property Taxes In Nutley And Belleville: See Latest 5-Year Breakdowns

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.