Tax Decrease Proposed In Mendham Township School Budget

MENDHAM, NJ — As budget work for the Mendham Township School District continues, preliminary projections show a decrease in school taxes for Mendham residents.

Superintendent Dr. Sal Constantino, Business Administrator Donna Mosner, and members of the Board of Education will be presenting the proposed budget at two public budget hearings, which are scheduled for April 13.

The public is invited to the two open houses, which are planned for 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. at Mendham Township Elementary School, 18 W. Main Street.

"We hope to see all township residents at the budget open houses," Constantino said. "This is an opportunity for us to hear value feedback from the community and for the community to learn how the budget process supports the type of educational programs that make Mendham Township’s schools stand out."

The district is proposing a budget of $22.36 million for the 2023-24 school year, which will fund the expansion of instructional programs that align with the district's commitment to providing quality education to all students.

Even in the face of rising costs and increased student enrollment, the district's administration and board of education touted fiscal responsibility while prioritizing educational programming and student learning outcomes.

Because of the district's multi-year budget planning, the Mendham Township School District has a banked cap that will expire if not used within the next two to three years.

As a result, the Mendham Township School District will use the banked cap to raise the tax levy by 4.29 percent. This is $394,807 more than the limit, officials said.

Residents will, however, see a reduction in the school portion of their tax bills for two reasons. First, the township underwent a revaluation in 2022, which resulted in a $168 million increase in total ratables.

Second, the bond referendum approved by voters in 2022 provided the district with even more state aid than the $1.27 million granted by the state for the regular operating budget. "In fact, the state committed to pay $7.4 million of the $19.9 million toward those specific voter-approved projects over the life of the bonds," the district said.

A home assessed at Mendham Township's average, which is $948,400, can expect a $363.44 tax reduction over the course of a year. Another way to consider the tax impact is that for every $100,000 of assessed home value, a resident can expect a $35.86 per year decrease.

Following these budget presentations, the district will monitor conditions and consider community feedback before the board formally votes on the budget on April 25 at 7:30 p.m. at Mendham Township Elementary School.