Taxes Up, But Core Programs Remain In Proposed Lacey Schools Budget

LACEY, NJ — The Lacey Township School District presented a tentative 2026-27 budget that would avoid cuts to teachers and instructional programs while raising school taxes on the average home by about $24 a month.

The proposal is tentative, with a public budget workshop scheduled for April 28 and formal adoption set for May 5.

You can find the presentation here.

During the presentation, Acting Superintendent William Zylinski said the district had “finally worked a solution where we're not cutting any instructional staff, not cutting any teachers.” He added that it was the first time in nine years the district had reached that point.

According to the presentation, the tentative budget also would make no further cuts to transportation and would leave instructional programs in place for next year.

Zylinski said rising benefit and utility costs are driving much of the budget pressure. Medical and dental benefits are projected to rise 30 percent, which Zylinski said amounts to a $4.1 million charge to the budget.

The core driver of that is the state health benefits program that the district is "forced into," Zylinski said.

Natural gas and electric costs are projected to increase by nearly 39 percent, or almost $400,000, and property and casualty insurance also is increasing, according to the presentation.

Zylinski said the district is limited this year by a 2 percent statutory tax levy cap and a 5.1 percent health benefit waiver increase allowed by the state. “I am required to present a balanced budget. I do not have another way to do it. At this time, we'll be clear on that,” he said.

To close the gap, the district identified reductions in paraprofessionals, full-time health aides, administrative staff salaries, technology, transportation and fuel, co-curricular and athletic supplies, maintenance supplies and instructional supplies. The presentation said two administrative positions would be reduced. The speaker described the decisions as “sad in many cases, and hard decisions” and “emotional decisions.”

According to the presentation, the total property tax levy would rise 5.87% over 2025-26. The speaker said the average home value in Lacey Township increased from $288,906 to $296,080. For the average home, that comes out to an extra $24 a month.

The presentation also included an update on the district's voter-approved referendum. Zylinski said five roofs will be replaced over the next two summers, along with related HVAC work, and that most of the high school roof and all of the Cedar Creek roof are scheduled for this summer.

Next, the district plans to submit the tentative budget to the county for review. The April 28 public session is expected to focus only on the budget before the board's scheduled final vote May 5.