6.84% Tax Increase Could Save Hillsborough Middle School Sports, Staff Positions

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — A new tentative budget for the 2024-2025 school year could restore middle school sports and staff positions in Hillsborough, but it will come at a cost.

The Board of Education voted on Monday night to introduce a tentative budget of $152,462,337 for the 2024-25 school year. This is an increase of 6.84 percent or roughly $9.7 million over the 2023-24 budget of $142,705,863. Board members Elaine Jackson and Jean Trujillo were the only ones to vote against the budget.

“By voting yes in going beyond our 2 percent tax cap we are making an investment in our future. And there is no other choice in my mind. We owe it to the hardworking educators in this town and we owe it to our children,” said Board Member Allison Laning-Beder.

This vote follows recent legislation from the state where the Board of Education will be provided a one-time return of 45 percent of this year’s $2.7 million state aid cut, $1.2 million.

That 45 percent return is a one-year grant only. Superintendent Mike Volpe said the district intends to use the one time $1.2 million to restore unfilled referendum positions that the taxpayers approved in November and retain one teacher who would have lost their job.

Additionally, the new legislation allowed Hillsborough a one-time adjustment to the 2 percent cap to recoup previous state aid losses of $5.7 million since 2021 – which is how the Board was able to increase by 6.84 percent.

If the Board did not agree to go above the 2 percent cap, several items would still be slated to be cut including not filling positions of retiring staff members, new instructional supplies and materials, middle school sports, some high school and middle school clubs and more.

“I’ve lived in Hillsborough since 1999. Less than some of you, probably more than some of you, as well. And I need you to think about your property taxes. Nobody likes property taxes going up. But how do you feel about your property values? And when it comes down to your property values, the biggest thing about property values is the health of your school system. It’s the truth,” said Volpe.

With the additional money raised by going above the 2 percent cap a number of items could be addressed inclusing restoring courtesy bussing, construction for full-day kindergarten, suspension of “pay-to-play,” repair bleachers at the high school, and more.

Volpe clarified that by approving the budget with the 6.84 percent increase, it does not tie the district to the specific line items listed above – such as full day kindergarten. All of the decisions would have to be separate discussions and would require a vote.

“I will definitely be voting yes on this budget because my role is to do what’s best for the district and thinking of the community. This is what we need for kids,” said Board Vice President Cynthia Nurse.

“If we really want to align students to have the most success possible it really needs to start in kindergarten so I definitely support that and I look forward to those conversations. Right now, it’s just about getting this budget passed. It is an uncomfortable situation. We just asked for money from the public and they were gracious enough to vote our referendum and we were all so proud and excited and then this happened and put us back at zero,” said Nurse.

While the Board agreed to raise taxes 6.84 percent, this year’s school tax rate will still decrease from last year due to the increase in the overall assessed home values.

The average home property in Hillsborough Township valued at $547,355 will pay $7,572 in 2024 which is a tax rate decrease of 0.53 percent. The average home property in Millstone valued at $396,255 will pay $3,501 in 2024 which is a tax rate decrease of 2.28 percent.

A public hearing on the budget for the 2024-2025 school year will be held at Auten Road Intermediate School, 281 Auten Road, Hillsborough on July 15 at 7:30 p.m.

See the full final budget presentation below (begins around 26:35):

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