School Board Votes On Budget In Lacey

LACEY, NJ — After weeks and several contentious meetings, the Lacey Township Board of Education failed to adopt their 2025-26 budget with a 7.57 percent tax increase.

Though the vote was 3-2 in favor of the budget, it still failed to pass with two board members absent from the meeting. The budget is now in the state's hands.

It wasn't an ideal budget, according to district officials, but rather a "compromise" - one that would let them stay in control of their schools, instead of the state taking over. And while this iteration of the budget does have cuts and changes for the district, officials think that a state takeover would be even more drastic.

"We don't agree with the budget cuts or the increased class sizes, and as your chief school administrator, I feel caught between a rock and a hard place," Acting Superintendent William Zylinski said before the final budget presentation. "Trying to meet educational needs of our children while navigating financial constraints that don't align with those expectations."

Zylinski had previously advocated for a steeper tax increase of 14.24 percent that he thought was the most responsible option. But the board shot that down. Read more: School Board Votes On 14.24% Tax Increase In Lacey

With this proposed 7.57 tax increase, residents with the average home assessed at $288,906 would pay an extra $51 a month, or $616 a year. For a home assessed at $400,000, that's an extra $68 a month, or $816 a year.

In this budget, academic programs like STEM and honors academies are saved, plus co-curriculars that were previously threatened.

The biggest change in the budget is the restructuring of elementary schools, which has been met with some pushback. The district is now doing what is called "grade banding." Next year, Mill Pond School will house all preschool programs. Cedar Creek School will be for kindergarten and first grade, Forked River School second and third grade, and Lanoka Harbor School will house fourth and fifth grade.

"I'm flying the plane and I'm building it at the same time," Zylinski said of this change, as a lot of the work had been done in a short period of time. He said it will be beneficial as special education students will be kept with their grade level peers and it will help spread class size loads out. With this budget, class sizes will grow into the 30s. But having the same grade level teachers in one building allows them to collaborate and more efficiently use resources, Zylinski said.

Twenty-seven teaching jobs have been cut and two administrators.

Also cut is courtesy bussing for those in walking zones, except for Forked River School, which is on a "hazardous route." Those students will still get bussed.

Old buses will have delayed replacements and outdated teaching materials will also not be replaced.

Previous Reporting

Sports Saved But More Cuts, School Restructuring In New Lacey Budget

School Board Votes On 14.24% Tax Increase In Lacey

Massive Cuts Possible As Lacey Schools Face 'Budget Crisis'

Editor's note: A previous iteration of this article said the district adopted the budget. Despite the vote passing, the board failed to approve the budget. Patch regrets the error.