Hazlet Schools To Consider Applying For New Tax Levy Incentive Aid

HAZLET, NJ — The Hazlet Township Board of Education will consider applying for tax levy incentive aid after Superintendent Scott Ridley said the district was informed of a budget miscalculation by an external vendor over the weekend.

According to Ridley, the district contracted an external vendor in the fall to conduct a study of the schools’ transportation routes. After a first look, Ridley said the vendor told the district that they stood to save $800,000 by eliminating courtesy busing.

Though the vendor said the district would save $800,000, Ridley said the vendor admitted a miscalculation over the weekend and that instead of saving $800,000, they would only save $200,000.

After successfully passing their tentative budget in March, Ridley said the district now has to find an additional $600,000 to balance their budget.

On Monday, the board met in a no-action-taken meeting to discuss available options moving forward.

One of these options is applying for a one-time tax levy of $5 million, which would cover the busing deficit and allow for the return of staff and previously eliminated academic programs and services. Hazlet is one of 20 districts under adequacy in Monmouth County that qualify.

Should the board consider moving in this direction, Ridley said they would only do so with less than half of the allowed amount and with the sole purpose of covering the deficit and setting the district up for success in the future.

The deadline for districts to claim available funding is Monday, April 14, Ridley said.

Given the state’s mandatory timeline, the board will hold another no-action meeting on Thursday to continue their discussion on how to address the miscalculation and to discuss a plan to smooth out some of the hardships faced across the district.

After Thursday’s meeting, Ridley said the board will host a public meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 14, in the Raritan High School auditorium to share their decision, which will be reported out in full at the regularly scheduled board meeting on April 28th.

“The board is committed to addressing what matters most to their community,” Ridley said. “Given this opportunity from the state, [the board] will consider building out a long-term plan that could include neighborhood schools, smaller class sizes, and the return of supports for students and various academic programs.”

To watch the full message from Ridley, you can click here.

Related

• Hazlet Schools To Eliminate Some Bus Routes For 2025-26 School Year