Here's What Thursday Night's Special Secaucus BOE/Town Meeting Is About

SECAUCUS, NJ — On Thursday night, the Secaucus school board and the town will hold a rare joint public meeting.

The entire point of the meeting is to talk about the school district's budget, for next year and the years after that, Mayor Mike Gonnelli said Tuesday.

The only thing that will be discussed Thursday night is the budget for the tiny Secaucus school district, he stressed.

The Secaucus school board asked the town for help, and it was Gonnelli who determined both boards should hold one public meeting "so everything can be discussed in public," said the mayor.

"It's about their budget this year, next year and the year after that," said the mayor.

The special meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 30 at the high school Performing Arts Center.

Everyone in town is welcome to attend, and there will be a chance for all members of the public to speak. No formal action will be taken by either the school board or the town.

All towns across the state, and school districts, have seen an increase in operating costs, and Secaucus public schools are no different, said Gonnelli. Secaucus school district has particularly seen an increase in salaries and health insurance costs for staff.

At the same time, enrollment is down in Secaucus public schools, which is already a small district to begin with.

Many school districts across New Jersey are reporting financial problems this year, and many of the state's largest suburban districts are even having to close schools and consolidate, such as Old Bridge, Montclair and Middletown.

Why? There are several reasons: 1. The Trump administration cut federal funding to schools. 2. The state of New Jersey cut state aid for many suburban school districts, while continuing to fund urban school districts at the same level it has for years. 3. Federal COVID-19 relief money given to public schools has now all expired. Meanwhile, salary costs, healthcare premiums and pensions continue to rise.

"We can raise money, but the school district cannot," said Gonnelli, referring to property taxes.

Gonnelli said the town of Secaucus can always raise property taxes when it needs more money, but the school district cannot raise taxes beyond the standard two-percent property tax cap. That's why the school district asked the town for help.

(On another note, there will be a municipal property tax increase in 2026 in Secaucus, but the exact amount has not been determined yet; stay tuned for more details on that.)