School Tax Hike, Staff Cuts On The Table In South Orange-Maplewood

SOUTH ORANGE-MAPLEWOOD, NJ — They warned that school cuts were coming. Now, a tax increase may also be in the future for residents of South Orange and Maplewood.

Administrators introduced the South Orange-Maplewood Public School District’s proposed 2026-2027 budget at a special board of education meeting on March 24.

The early spending plan includes a 5.63 percent tax levy increase for the school portion of a local homeowner’s property taxes. Residents in both towns split the levy based on a formula that includes home values.

District administrators said they are looking to cut about $6 million from the budget.

“The development of this year's budget has been exceptionally difficult exercise and balancing educational necessity with fiscal reality,” Superintendent Jason Bing told the board.

Bing had previously warned of an impending “fiscal cliff” that would require some cuts, with costs “far outpacing” expected revenue. Potential reductions could include ending courtesy preschool busing, and changing start and end times for students, he said.

• Related: School Cuts Coming In SOMA, Superintendent Says

At last week’s meeting, Bing gave some more details about another potential cut: its employee payroll.

Staffing remains the largest expenditure in the district, making up 64 percent of the total budget. The district is considering a $2.5 million reduction in “pandemic-era staffing” through a combination of attrition, retirements, non-renewals, internal transfers and shared staff, Bing said.

A total of 23 positions are potentially on the chopping block. Only five would be a reduction in force – the other 18 would come through not filling vacancies.

“Our primary goal has been to right-size the ship while protecting our greatest asset: our wonderful staff,” Bing said.

A public hearing and final adoption of the budget is scheduled for May 4.

Property taxes in New Jersey are mainly made up of three parts: school, municipal and county. Here’s how that played out in both towns for 2025, according to state data (percentages rounded up):

MAPLEWOOD

• School – 56.5%
• Municipal – 29%
• County – 14.5%

SOUTH ORANGE

• School – 57.3%
• Municipal – 28.4%
• County – 14.3%

Watch footage from the March 24 school budget hearing here, or view it below (video is cued to the superintendent’s budget presentation):

>> READ MORE: Property Taxes Keep Rising In Maplewood And South Orange: See Latest 5-Year Breakdown

Want to know how school budgets are developed in New Jersey? Watch the district’s Budget 101 Informational Webinar here, or view the video below.

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