$1.6 Billion Newark School Budget Has Tax Hike, Teacher Cuts

NEWARK, NJ — The Newark Board of Education unanimously approved a $1.67 billion school budget for 2026-2027 at their meeting on Thursday evening.

The district’s spending plan will likely mean a 2 percent rise in the local tax levy. An average Newark homeowner with a property assessed at $191,065 will see an increase of $39 to their annual school taxes.

The budget will include both staffing cuts and additions. Newark schools are slated to drop 45 full-time equivalent jobs, including 30 teachers, six administration positions and nine school support positions. Meanwhile, the district is planning to hire 11 aides.

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The district plans to utilize funds from its capital reserve for projects, including $3.57 million for the construction of New Media High School, and $2.68 million for a new playground at Belmont-Runyon Elementary School.

• Related: New School Could Cost Newark $500M – And District Might Not Own It

Total charter school expenses come to $433.39 million, including $421.1 million for the charter school budget, $7.38 million for transportation costs and $4.9 million for out of district tuition.

Administrators noted that New Jersey provides 82.7 percent of the Newark Public School District’s general funds through state aid.

Newark is in line to receive $1.38 billion under Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s proposed state budget – a $60.6 million increase from last year. The additional funding will support “essential operating costs,” including special education services, student transportation and instructional programming, administrators said.

• Related: How Much State School Aid For Newark? NJ Releases Latest Totals

Board of Education President Hasani Council said the budget “strikes a responsible balance” between fiscal stewardship and the obligation to meet the needs of Newark’s students and families.

“We are maintaining critical programs, investing in our facilities, and doing so in a way that is mindful of taxpayers,” Council said.

“This budget reflects our unwavering commitment to providing every student with the resources and opportunities they need to succeed,” Superintendent Roger León agreed.

Property taxes in New Jersey are mainly made up of three parts: school, municipal and county. Experts say that a decrease in school aid – or even a flat number – can trigger an increase in taxes for a town’s homeowners.

>> RELATED: Average Newark Property Tax Tops $7,500: See Latest 5-Year Breakdown

Watch footage from the March 26 budget hearing here, or view it below.

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