Tax Hike, Staff Cuts Proposed In Morris School District Budget

MORRISTOWN, NJ — The Morris School District’s Board of Education has presented its tentative budget for 2026-27, and residents and staff can expect some notable changes.

The budget, proposed on Tuesday, accounts for a reduction in both staff and student enrollment, and also proposes a 3.5 percent tax increase, the maximum permitted by the state.

The district's budget comes as Governor Mikie Sherrill proposed a roughly $21,000 cut in state aid for Morris School District, a less than one percent decrease in total funding.

Under the new budget, Morristown residents could see an increase of more than $300 in their school taxes, and Morris Township residents would see a nearly $80 increase.

Staff Cuts

District officials say the staff cuts are due to an enrollment drop of roughly 225 students, specifically students between grades six and 12.

The budget accounts for the following cuts:

• Four administrative positions

• Nine clerical and paraprofessional positions
• 15 teaching positions

Officials added that the cuts are relative to the drop in enrollment, meaning that class sizes and elective opportunities are not expected to change.

The proposed cuts are expected to save the district roughly $2.1 million, including $334,000 in health benefit costs, $735,000 in school and department allocations, and $475,000 in pension contributions.

Spending

Around 70 percent of the proposed budget accounts for salary and benefits. Roughly $611,000 will go towards salary increases. Health benefit costs are expected to jump 17 percent, a $3.6M increase, while dental is expected to jump $10,000, a two percent increase.

Additionally, the budget would set aside $800,000 for copier and Chromebook costs over the next three years, and $1.8 million for school bus replacement over the next six years.

As far as capital projects, the school district has set aside roughly $2.2 million for various upgrades, including three new athletic fields at Frelinghuysen Middle School and electrical upgrades for Hillcrest Elementary School. An additional $1 million was allocated for maintenance costs.

The district is also awaiting a bond referendum, which, if approved, would fund other upgrades, including infrastructure upgrades and curriculum enhancements. The bond referendum will be voted on in September.

Effects On Households

The budget reflects a $3.5 million tax hike, or a roughly $4.3 million increase, totaling nearly $112 million for the 2026-27 year.

Specifically, it would have the average Morristown homeowner paying an additional $331 in taxes, and the average Morris Township resident paying an additional $78.

Property taxes account for roughly 80 percent of the Morris School District budget, with Morristown taxpayers covering 40.4 percent, and Morris Township covering 59.6 percent.

The tentative budget will be submitted to the county superintendent on Thursday, with a final adoption hearing scheduled for April 27. Click here to view the budget presentation.