Total budget
$206.8M
-0.6% vs FY26
Our kids deserve a plan.
West Orange schools just absorbed another multi-million dollar round of cuts, and without state action, every year threatens deeper reductions. Class sizes have grown, staffing has shrunk, and educational quality is suffering. Our kids deserve a plan — and West Orange parents are building one.
Adopted May 4, 2026
FY27 Budget: What Was Adopted
On May 4, the Board adopted West Orange's FY27 budget by a 5–0 vote. The adopted budget closes a $13.5M structural deficit through staff reductions, program cuts, and a 2.5% tax levy increase. The structural problem that created the deficit — a state formula that requires local funding obligations to grow faster than the 2% levy cap allows — is unchanged. Without state-level reform, West Orange will face the same math in FY28.
Tax levy increase
2.5%
~$294/year on an average assessed home
Staff non-renewals
~77
Non-renewals (full-time and part-time)
Structural deficit closed
$13.5M
What was cut
The FY27 adopted budget includes permanent reductions and restructures that closed this year's gap. The district also used $797,576 of banked cap, leaving about $2.9M available for future years.
77 staff non-renewals
77 full-time and part-time positions, including teachers, support staff, and administration. These are economic non-renewals, not performance-based, per the Superintendent's April 29 letter.
Elementary class sizes to 25
Elementary classroom sizes increased from prior averages to approximately 25 students. The elementary schedule was restructured to consolidate related arts.
Middle/high class sizes raised to 30
Secondary class sections increased to approximately 30 across core courses. Middle school moves from a 7-period to an 8-period day.
Middle school sports and intramurals eliminated
All middle school sports and intramurals removed from the district budget. The Superintendent is exploring partnerships with parent boosters and Township Recreation to preserve some opportunities.
Paraprofessionals moved to managed services vendor
The district is moving paraprofessional staffing to a third-party managed services vendor for projected $3M in annual recurring savings. Per the Superintendent's April 29 letter, paras will not be rotated; assignments are IEP-driven.
2 central office administrators eliminated
Two more district-level administrator roles cut, on top of 4 cut in prior years - 6 total over two years.
Transportation consolidated
Bus routes combined; high school late-bus service reduced or cut.
FY28 and beyond
What's Next
The adopted budget closes this year's gap, but the structural formula problem remains. Our full post-adoption roadmap outlines what comes next for state reform, community oversight, and local support — including clear next steps families can take right now.
Read What's Next →Context
What's at Stake
A Growing Structural Deficit
FY27's $13.5M deficit was closed through cuts and a 2.5% levy increase. The underlying formula problem is unchanged — costs continue to rise ~8% per year while revenue is capped at 2%. FY28 starts from the same structural mismatch unless state policy changes.
We Already Pay More Than "Fair" — And It's Still Not Enough
The formula pegs West Orange's Local Fair Share at $142.4M toward a $162.0M adequacy budget. We already levy $163.4M — about $20M above what the state expects us to contribute — yet the budget still exceeds the expected local levy by $19.9M. Real costs outrun both the formula and the 2% cap.
Staff Cuts Compounding
Approximately 77 non-renewals were adopted for FY27, alongside two additional central office cuts and paraprofessional outsourcing. That's on top of major reductions in prior years, bringing district-level administrator cuts to six over two years.
57 positions last year · 77 this year
Every Student Is Affected
Over 7,000 students across 13 schools now face larger class sizes (elementary 25, middle/high 30), reduced extracurricular access, and fewer supports.
Background
How We Got Here
A Formula That Doesn't Add Up
The state uses a formula to decide how much each town should pay for its own schools. For West Orange, that number keeps going up — ~8% every year. But there's a state law that says we can only raise taxes by 2% a year. So the state expects us to pay more, but won't let us raise the money. Every year, the gap gets bigger.
State Aid Is Unpredictable
Equalization aid can swing by millions year to year, with little warning. We lost $7.1M in FY26, recovered $3.0M in FY27, and remain $4.8M below where we were two years ago. One good year doesn't fix a broken formula — or let the district plan around it.
Costs Keep Rising
Health insurance, special education, and transportation costs go up every year in excess of revenue we can sustainably raise. The district can't control most of these costs, and the state isn't covering the difference.
Few Options Left
The district used up its savings and its extra taxing room from prior years. In the near-term, there are almost no tools left to close the budget gap without cutting more staff and programs.
Priorities
Our Goals
Update the State Formula
The state funding formula is the root cause of our budget problems. We're pushing state legislators and the Governor to update it so towns like West Orange aren't punished for looking "wealthy" on paper when most families are middle-class.
Do What We Can Locally
While we fight for state-level change, we're working with the Board of Education to use every tool available locally — smarter budgeting, cost comparisons with similar districts, and full transparency about how decisions are made.
Build a Community Fund
We're planning a nonprofit so our community can raise money to directly support our schools — to try to offset some resources that budget cuts are threatening to take away.
Join Us
Stay informed and help protect our schools.
Take Action
Contact your elected officials and tell them to change the formula.