New $135.5M Ridgewood School Budget May Require 6 Layoffs: Officials

RIDGEWOOD, NJ —Ridgewood's school board unanimously passed a $135.5 million school budget last week that will require a tax hike and a handful of layoffs.

While parents were successful in convincing the district not to lay off a popular wrestling coach, the district may still lay off as many as six faculty members, a district spokeswoman said Monday.

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As with districts around the country, the schools must contend with rising costs such as utilities and health insurance for employees.

While 17 positions have been eliminated — a spokeswoman said Monday — retirements and other changes have reduced the number of necessary layoffs. The number may drop further.

Six staff members already know they are on the chopping block, the spokesperson said, but the school board has not voted to cut them yet.

The proposed budget calls for an increase in the tax levy of almost 4 percent, or $527 per year for an average home in Ridgewood, according to the March budget presentation.

See information about past and future Ridgewood Board of Education meetings here.