Budget Information
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The following FAQs provide details on the preliminary budget for the 2026-2027 school year:
FINANCIAL QUESTIONS
Q. Why is there a budget challenge this year? The primary driver of the current financial difficulty is an unprecedented 33% increase in medical, dental, and prescription premiums for staff. This is compounded by a decrease in State Aid of $49,237, while nearly 70% of other districts in New Jersey saw funding increases.
Q. How will this affect my property taxes? For a home assessed at the township average of $738,359, the estimated net tax increase is 5.18%, which equates to approximately $478 per year. While the General Fund tax levy is increasing by 6.37%, this is partially offset by a 21.61% decrease in the debt service tax levy because the district successfully refinanced its school bonds.
Q. What is the district doing to bridge the funding gap? The district is using a state-authorized Health Care Adjustment Waiver of $5,611,079 to help cover the massive jump in insurance costs. They are also reducing 40 staff positions and cutting costs by identifying overlapping or underutilized software programs.
Q. Is Livingston's per-pupil spending higher than other towns? No. Based on 2025-2026 data, Livingston’s per-pupil cost of $19,456 is lower than several peer districts, including Millburn, Ridgewood, Summit, and Princeton, and it remains below the state average.
STAFFING AND PROGRAMS
Q. What specific staff positions are being reduced? The tentative budget includes the reduction of 40 positions. These include:
- Administrators (2): Including the Assistant Superintendent of CIT.
- Aides (15): Campus, Kindergarten, and Media aides.
- Teaching Positions (11): Including four Gifted & Talented positions and several middle school roles.
- Support & Student Services (12): Including secretaries, a school nurse, social workers, and a counselor.
Q. Will current employees lose their jobs? To minimize the impact on current staff, the district has managed 12 of these reductions through attrition and retirements, meaning those specific positions will simply not be refilled.
Q. Are any student programs or sports being cut? No. The preliminary budget maintains all existing programs currently in place for the 2026-2027 school year. This includes "Livingston Excellence" initiatives that are not required by the state, such as full-day kindergarten, 1:1 technology, instrumental music starting in 4th grade, and all extracurricular clubs and athletics.
LOGISTICS AND PARTICIPATION
Q. Are there any other new fees for families? Yes. To continue supporting student laptops and cybersecurity, the annual Technology Fee will increase from $30 to $35.
Q. When is the budget finalized? The district expects to receive final confirmed medical insurance rates and completed school schedules by mid-April. These figures will be reviewed to see if any of the proposed staffing reductions can be prevented before the final budget hearing on April 28, 2026.
Q. How can I learn more or share my opinion? Community members are encouraged to participate in the following ways:
- Email: Send questions to budgetquestions@livingston.org.
- Public Meeting: The budget will be discussed at the public meeting on April 7, 2026.
- Community Forums: Attend sessions on April 23, 2026, at 11 Foxcroft Drive (9:30 AM or 7:00 PM).
- Final Hearing/Public Meeting: The final budget vote is scheduled for April 28, 2026.