What's Staying, What's Cut In 2023 Lacey School District Budget

LACEY, NJ — After a difficult couple of months, the Lacey Township School District has finally adopted their 2023-24 budget.

Struggles began in early March, when it was announced that the district's state aid was cut by nearly $4 million.

Since then, government officials have rallied to get the lost aid restored. Read more: Restorations Made To 2023 Lacey School Budget

This was mostly successful - the budget is still short $1.3 million, Superintendent Vanessa Pereira explained at the latest Board of Education meeting before the budget was approved.

"Last year was a tough budget," Pereira said. "This year was by far the worst."

A budget presentation given by Business Administrator Sharon Silvia outlined what changes are coming in the budget.

Six health aides were restored to full time, Silvia said. There are 34 paraprofessionals, not 46 as before because 12 retired. So, 12 part-time paras will be coming back, Silvia said. A child study team was also restored, she said.

And 34 certificated positions have been restored as well after 73 were originally set to be cut.

Reductions are still set for things like co-curriculars and regular programs, but it wasn't clear specifically what would be cut there.

Property taxes will increase, Silvia said. The average home is valued at $285,000, so the change will be about $75 a year, or $6.32 a month.

Board members noted that cuts could be worse in next year's budget without supplementation and that work would begin immediately on the 2024-25 budget.

"While we got to the final budget, we're still not happy with where we landed," Pereira said. "We can't be. We shouldn't be. That's why we have to keep fighting the fight."

You can find more about the budget here.