'No Question Additional Funding Proposal Needed' In Westfield, Says Superintendent

WESTFIELD, NJ — Looking ahead at the upcoming school budget, Westfield residents will be asked to vote in April on an additional spending proposal in order to maintain and improve programs in the district.

"When we think about all the work we are doing to build budgets each year we are not looking anymore to just see how we can get by. We are not looking just to maintain the status quo. But we want to continue the work that we have done each and every year to build out our programs and make sure that our students and staff have the support that they need," said Superintendent Dr. Raymond Gonzalez at the Jan. 21 Board of Education meeting.

Gonzalez along with Business Administrator Patricia Ramos gave an update on what residents can expect for the 2025-26 school budget.

The district is dealing with several rising costs and factors that are impacting the budget this upcoming year.

Factors include receiving a flat state aid, an increase in health benefits, transportation increases, and more.

Ramos noted that the district is ahead of the game a bit as it recently purchased two new district owned school buses.

"Even with hiring drivers, our transportation costs will only rise 1.6 percent," saisd Ramos. "If we didn’t buy our own buses I would have had to budget 5 percent minimum across the board for an increase. So we are already seeing a savings by bringing that internally."

The district is also saving $100,000 per middle school student as school officials were able to bring some Emotional Regulation Impairment(ERI) and Multiple Disabilities(MD) programming into the district.

State health insurance costs are rising 15 percent. While Westfield offers private health insurance, Ramos estimated an increase of 10 percent.

"We are still below New Jersey's state health benefits by a decent amount so it was definitely the right move to move into the self-insurance," said Ramos.

With all these rising costs, Westfield is put in a tough spot because state law limits the district to a maximum 2 percent increase in the property tax levy.

As a result, Gonzalez said voters will be asked to pass an additional funding proposal.

"There is no question that there is going to be an additional funding proposal that will be required in order for us to maintain our existing programming, maintain additional supports that had been introduced last year into the coming year and the years ahead," said Gonzalez. "As much as we would love to be below the tax levy cap, in order to continue what we've done the district will continue to experience that additional funding proposal year after year."

The district is also looking to pass a referendum which includes solving pressing needs for buildings and instructional space such as the replacement of old heating systems. It also includes full-day kindergarten in all six elementary schools estimated to being in 2028-29.

The capital improvements will be supported by the bond referendum.

"We just want to make sure we recognize that as a community, to build a strong foundation requires the community support not just the administration, not just the Board of Education but really the entire school community together to build a strong foundation for a brighter future," said Gonzalez.

Board member Julie Steinberg stressed the importance of voters approving the referendum and additional spending proposals to avoid dipping too far into the district's capital reserves.

"Our capital reserves could potentially go down while our costs which would be used from our capital fund will continue to go up, up, up because these things are getting more and more dated, more and more obsolete," said Steinberg. "We’re literally at the worst possible financial scenario where we are depleting our capital funds more and more so in an emergency we have less capital funds to look back on."

Ramos confirmed that the more capital reserves Westfield has the better bond rating they have which would give them lower interest rates.

She added that passing the proposals would allow the district to avoid putting projects on hold "because we have to address the most dire needs first."

Vice President Sonal Patel as if "we could still not provide status quo with the 2 percent cap?"

Ramos confirmed, "That’s correct."

"If you look at the totality of what we are trying to accomplish here, is a lot of what we’re trying to do, is not keeping up with the Jones stuff. We are living in the 60s and 70s with our infrastructure," said Steinberg.

The Board will present another budget and board referendum update at its Feb. 11 meeting and state aid numbers are expected to be released by Feb. 27.

On March 4, the Board expects to present its preliminary budget to the Board. The Board will also vote on the bond referendum ballot language.

On March 25, there will be a public hearing and vote on the final budget.

On April 15, voters will have a say on the referendum vote, budget vote, and school board candidates.

Residents can learn more about the referendum by clicking here.

See below to see the full budget and referendum update (beginning at 1:17:00):

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