Wayne Schools’ Tentative Budget Intro’d, See Tax Hikes

WAYNE, NJ — The Wayne Public Schools Board of Education has introduced its 2026-27 tentative budget, and taxpayers can expect to pay a bit more next school year.

The budget was introduced during the March 19 Board of Ed. meeting, and accounts for a $211.1 million general fund. It comes weeks after the Board expressed concerns “a higher level of uncertainty than we typically experience at this stage.”

The budget suggests a two percent increase on the tax levy, or $3.5 million, which will partially be covering a $10.5 million health care cost adjustment.

See the estimated tax impact below:

District Business Administrator Jinnee DeMarco said that a priority of the 2026-27 school year is to avoid staff reduction. The “tight fiscal position” the district is facing makes it difficult to replace staff.

“Retirements and resignations will be carefully evaluated, and positions will only be filled when operationally essential and fiscally responsible,” DeMarco said. “Automatic replacement of vacancies is no longer feasible. In short, we are entering the new budget year in a tight fiscal position.”

Other cost increases across the board include the cost to the district’s lease purchase agreement, which funds “essential operating needs” including Chromebooks, staff laptops, buses, and maintenance vehicles.

Additionally, with the Department of Education covering only 40 percent of the district’s board share project, the district’s annual debt payment in its operating budget increased by $800,000 from the previous year.

See how funds will be distributed below:

The district will be implementing new initiatives throughout Wayne schools, including a new K-8 science curriculum, AP statistics textbook renewal for Wayne Valley and Wayne Hills schools, and the implementation of “I-Ready,” a K-8 student assessment tool.

The district also plans to implement a number of infrastructure upgrades, including a $660,000 district-wide Wi-Fi upgrade to nine schools, a $700,000 upgrade to HVAC systems, and a $150,000 replacement of the paging system at Wayne Hills & Lafayette Elementary.

Click here to view the board's budget presentation.