Tax Increase Introduced In Westfield School Budget For 2025-2026

WESTFIELD, NJ — Town residents can expect to see an increase in their taxes following the Westfield Board of Education's approval of the introduction of its proposed school budget for 2025-26.

The introduced budget was approved by the BOE at its March 4 meeting. Now voters will have a say on April 15.

Residents will be voting on two questions about the budget. The first question will ask voters to approve the base school district operating budget at a 2.92 percent tax levy cap and the second question will ask voters to approve an additional spending proposal for a .26 percent increase.

The taxes from the additional spending proposal will be used exclusively for the retention of two elementary teachers, one intermediate teacher and for health benefits for the three current staff members.

If both are approved the 2025-2026 school district operating budget would be increased by 3.18 percent or $240 annually for the average Westfield homeowner of $826,700.

"We are no longer as a district being reactive. We are being proactive," said Board Member Kristen Sonnek-Schmelz. "And having been a student and a teacher and now a parent and now on the Board, I can say confidently that — since I was four years old — I haven’t seen this kind of proactive work being done in Westfield until like the last three years."

"I think we are in for a lot of really exciting and essential change," continued Sonnek-Schmelz.

According to the presentation, the budget will include:

• Curriculum writing, professional development, and resources
• Addition of two drivers for new district buses
• Grade 2 furniture replacement
• Cafeteria furniture and equipment implementation of single-unit block lunch at Westfield High School

The main drivers of the budget include: salary and benefits which take up around 80 percent of the budget, out-of-district tuition takes up 5.7 percent and transportation takes up 4.7 percent.

You can view the full Board of Education meeting on YouTube. For more information on the budget click here.

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