Montclair Takes Another Crack At School Taxpayer Bailout, Board OKs New Questions

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Montclair’s controversial school referendum is back on the menu.

On Monday, the Montclair Board of Education approved two new ballot questions that would authorize a taxpayer bailout to cover a $20 million shortfall in the district’s coffers. Watch video footage from the meeting here.

A special election is set for Tuesday, March 10. Polls will be open from 3 to 8 p.m.

The Montclair Public School District is facing a looming budget gap that has swelled to nearly $20 million. More than 100 staff members were laid off or impacted by a “reduction in force” notice due to ongoing financial struggles – although nearly two dozen positions have since been reinstated. The district also faces the possibility of having a state monitor installed if it needs a bailout from the New Jersey Department of Education.

In an effort to bridge the gap and prevent future financial woes in the district, the Montclair Board of Education approved the creation of a public referendum with two questions that was set to go before voters in a special election on Dec. 9. However, a judge recently cancelled the referendum, calling the ballot language “convoluted” and siding with a local resident who filed a lawsuit to stop the election. Read More: Judge Nixes Montclair School Referendum, Financial Woes Still Loom On Horizon

The board went back to the drawing board, and is now taking another crack at the referendum.

At Monday’s meeting, the board voted 7-1 with an abstention to approve two, new ballot questions. Sean Long provided the sole “no” vote.

Montclair residents will get to vote separately on each question, which now come with an interpretive statement for voters.

“On election day, the community will decide what they will and will not support,” Montclair Superintendent Ruth Turner said.

“Whatever decision is made, we will honor that and work with that,” she added.

>> READ MORE: Montclair Official Addresses Public ‘Anxiety’ About School Finances

Here’s how the new ballot questions will read:

QUESTION NUMBER 1

The Board of Education of the Township of Montclair in the County of Essex shall raise an additional $12,600,000 from taxes over the amount raised in the last annual school budget to cover a prior deficit from the 2024-2025 school year. Approval of these taxes will result in a one-time increase to the district’s tax levy. These expenditures are in addition to those required to achieve New Jersey Student Learning Standards. Do you approve this proposal?

Interpretive Statement – “If approved by the voters, the funds will be used to pay outstanding debts and obligations due and owing from the previous school year. The tax will be non-recurring and will not be built into the base tax levy on which future years’ tax increase limits are based.”

QUESTION NUMBER 2

The Board of Education of the Township of Montclair in the County of Essex shall raise an additional $5,000,000 from taxes over the amount raised for the current (2025-2026) annual school budget for general fund operating expenses for the 2025-2026 school year. Approval of these taxes will result in a permanent increase to the district’s tax levy. These expenditures are in addition to those required to achieve New Jersey Student Learning Standards. Do you approve this proposal?

Interpretive Statement – “If approved by the voters, the funds will be used for general fund operating expenses, including, but not limited to: reducing the impact of reductions in force among teaching staff, security staff and support staff; addressing ongoing maintenance needs; and mitigating the impact of cuts to athletics, co-curricular and extracurricular programs. Approval of this tax levy increase will be built into the base tax levy on which future years’ tax increase limits are based.”

FORENSIC AUDIT

The original set of ballot questions included the approval of a forensic audit of the 2024-2025 financial records. An audit is not mentioned in the new ballot questions.

At Monday’s meeting, Turner said that funding for a forensic audit will be included in the 2026-2027 budget.

MORE INFORMATION

Several websites have since been launched about the referendum in Montclair:

• The Montclair Public School District has created a frequently asked question page, which can be seen here.
• MPACT, an independent, non-partisan group of Montclair parents and community members, has launched a website with more details, which can be seen here.
• Another website, montclairschoolvote.com, also has information about the referendum and ballot questions, which can be seen here.

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