Hoboken School Budget With Tax Hike Up For Final Vote Tuesday

HOBOKEN, NJ — After holding a budget hearing for the public last week, the Hoboken Board of Education is expected to take a final vote on its $102.3 million school budget on Tuesday, including a more than 23 percent tax increase.

The budget was cut from the original $104.8 million spending plan that was introduced in March.

The schools will require $91.3 million from local taxes to run, up from around $74 million last year.

Superintendent Dr. Christine Johnson had said the increases in spending and taxes were due, in part, to rises in health insurance costs for staff, and hiring to match enrollment growth.

"This was a very challenging year in regard to the construction of the budget for so many reasons," Johnson said in March

She noted that health insurance costs for employees are projected to rise as much as 32-27 percent during the 2026-2027 school year. School employees receive state health benefits.

Salary costs will also be increase, Johnson noted, as the district is projected to have 211 more students in K-12 next year, which means new hires. Costs are also rising for students with special needs who require out-of-town tuition and transportation, she said.

The district includes three K-5 elementary schools, a middle school, a high school, and pre-K programs. There are also three public charter schools in Hoboken that are considered separate districts.

School districts are largely funded by taxes, state aid, federal aid, and small amounts from rents and other revenue.

Property owners in Hoboken pay taxes that are affected by three budgets — the city budget, school budget, and the Hudson County budget. All three are proposed each spring.

Public Comments

Last week's public hearing drew around a dozen audience members.

First Ward Councilman Paul Presinzano said that he has many constituents who are concerned about the city's 20 percent municipal tax increase, in addition to the school budget increase.

"The one theme is that residents are struggling with the fact that costs are out of our control, as a message we give to them," he said, "and that's not acceptable anymore. Their thought process is, we're elected to solve problems." See the hearing here.

See the updated 2026-2027 school budget and budget statement here.

Tuesday's meeting will be held in the Demarest School Auditorium, 158 Fourth St., second floor, starting at 7 p.m.

Find out about past and future meetings here.