Tax Increase Included In 2024/25 West Morris Regional District Budget

MENDHAM-CHESTER, NJ — Board of Education members are set to vote on the next school year's budget for the West Morris Regional High School District, which includes a 2 percent tax increase over last year.

Superintendent Barbara Sargent gave a presentation on the proposed $66 million budget and enrollment statistics for the high schools at the March 11 board meeting.

That 2 percent tax increase represents $993,097 of the roughly $50.6 million in local tax revenue which makes up the district's 2024/25 budget (see image below for a breakdown).

There will be a public hearing on the budget at the board's next meeting on Monday, April 29 at 7 p.m., located at the West Morris Central High School library. Board members are likely to adopt the plan.

The tentative budget was introduced the day before voters approved a $26 million referendum, which will fund building improvements at both high schools; district officials said they do not expect any changes to the budget as a result.

The next steps for these upgrades and renovations at West Morris Central and West Morris Mendham will be to go out to bid for bonds for the projects and to consult with architects about designs and timelines, Sargent noted in her March newsletter.

There are currently 2,118 students enrolled in at the two high schools; the district is predicting a decrease in the number of students at Central High School through the 2028/29 school year, and a slight decrease at Mendham High School that will even out by 2028/29.