Edison Schools Proposes $372M Budget, A Tax Hike Could Be Coming

EDISON, NJ — Edison Township school residents are facing an 11.9% increase in the school district's overall budget for the 2026-2027 school year — a sharp reversal after five consecutive years of zero tax increases, that critics say left the district financially vulnerable and cost it millions in state aid.

The Board of Education voted 6-2 at its Tuesday meeting to approve a preliminary $372 million budget and submit it to Middlesex County for review.

The operating fund alone is estimated at $364 million, with taxes to be raised set at $263 million — an increase of roughly $28 million over the current year.

Business Administrator Jonathan Toth laid out the financial reality plainly - the district is dealing with a $6 million cumulative hit from state aid cuts over the past two years, $11 million less in available surplus revenue, a $3.5 million increase in pre-K funding obligations, and $7 million in contractual costs covering salaries, health benefits, out-of-district tuition, and transportation.

Edison is among the districts seeing a reduction in state aid for 2026-27, with a cut of $2.7 million — a 3% reduction.

"That is the increase line items in the budget," Toth told the board. "Just like it's been every year since I've been here, we submit a preliminary budget to the county. They have to review and approve anything before the board can actually vote on it."

The budget increase is the direct consequence of years of holding the line on taxes, residents and officials acknowledged at the meeting. For years, the board touted zero percent tax increases — a position critics said was politically popular but financially reckless.

"For five years, you sat here with 0 percent increase, and now you're not even telling us how much this is going to be," said one resident during public comment. "You're not going to recoup it."

Resident Anthony DePasquale was more pointed, arguing the zero-increase policy was never honest or sustainable and directly contributed to the state reducing Edison's aid allocation.

"Of course they're going to go and say, well, Edison doesn't need to raise taxes, so we don't need to give them more funding," he said. "If you easily just went 2% every year, it would not have been as difficult as people now having to pay this kind of increase."

The district has not yet released the precise impact on individual tax bills. That information is expected to be presented at the formal budget hearing in April or May.

Superintendent Edward Aldarelli sought to reassure residents on several key concerns. There will be no blanket layoffs, he said, though staffing adjustments will reflect a decline of 778 students in enrollment over the past year. Retirees will not be replaced where enrollment does not warrant it, and staff may be reassigned across buildings as needed.

Subscription bussing — used by approximately 4,000 students — will be maintained under the proposed budget, Toth said, adding that the district hopes to expand routes if possible.

Class size caps will remain reasonable, Aladarelli said: 20 students for kindergarten and first grade, 23 for second and third grade, and 25 for fourth and fifth grade.

The preliminary budget is not final. It must first be reviewed and approved by the Middlesex County executive superintendent. A full public hearing — with a detailed, line-by-line presentation and an opportunity for public comment — is expected in April or May, after which the board will take a final vote.

Aldarelli emphasized that the formal hearing will include a breakdown of exactly how money is allocated, what is being added, and what is being reduced.

"We will have not only a full budget presentation — Mr. Toth talks about what the contents of the budget is in relationship to the average household," Aldarelli said. "All of those components are talked about during the formal budget hearing."

Residents who wish to weigh in are encouraged to attend that hearing. The date will be posted on the district's website.

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