2025-2026 Budget Communications
- 4-30-25 Lenape Regional High School District BOE Adopts 2025-2026 Budget
- 4-30-25 Budget Presentation
- 3-19-25 Lenape Regional High School District Releases Preliminary FY26 Budget
4-30-25 Lenape Regional High School District BOE Adopts 2025-2026 Budget
Lenape Regional High School District BOE Adopts 2025-2026 Budget
On Wednesday, April 30, 2025, the Lenape Regional High School District (LRHSD) Board of Education adopted a $178.3 million General Fund budget for the 2025–2026 school year, a 1.92% increase over the previous year. This budget includes a reduction in state aid totaling $567,953 (a 3% decrease). The adoption comes amid ongoing declines in state funding, rising energy costs, and increasing health insurance expenses.
The 2025–2026 budget accounts for a 14% increase in healthcare costs. The district continues to face a deficit in employee healthcare contributions due to the mandated NJ Educators Health Plan (Chapter 44). Although Chapter 44 was intended to reduce healthcare costs for both districts and employees, its implementation has resulted in significant financial losses for districts statewide.
LRHSD Board of Education Finance Chair David Stow emphasized the board’s commitment to fiscal responsibility on behalf of the communities it serves. According to the New Jersey Department of Education’s Taxpayer’s Guide to Education Spending, LRHSD is ranked as the top-performing regional school district in the state, with the fewest administrators per faculty member and per student. Additionally, the district spends nearly 30% less than the state-mandated regional limit on administrative costs per pupil.
This year’s state aid to LRHSD decreased by 3%, or $567,953, bringing the total state funding to just over $18.3 million. “It’s unbelievable that with all the tax dollars collected from community members in our eight townships, our district gets back pennies on the dollar from the state. With this latest reduction, the state is only funding 10.29% of our proposed budget for next year,” said Stow.
Stow also noted that the funding cut could have been even more severe if not for last-minute adjustments made by the New Jersey Department of Education. “Some of the positive changes in how the state applied the funding formula this year are not written into law, which leaves us very uncertain about what to expect next year and beyond,” he said.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carol Birnbohm expressed frustration with the instability of the state’s funding formula. “We continue to request an explanation of the changing multipliers from our elected officials and the Commissioner of Education, and we have not been provided any clear path to predict them. There needs to be accountability,” said Birnbohm.
“We are relieved that we were able to balance this year’s budget without overburdening our taxpayers or cutting staff and student programs,” she added. “But while many districts are finding ways to expand opportunities with increased state aid, our administration is focused on simply maintaining the status quo. It’s frustrating that, despite the amount of money the state collects from our communities, we can’t afford basic services like a late bus - let alone invest in new, innovative programs that prepare our students for future success.”
Despite limited state support, LRHSD continues to thrive as one of New Jersey’s top regional school districts, thanks to strong community backing and a dedicated staff committed to inspiring student success.
With an average graduation rate of 96.2% across its four high schools, the district consistently outperforms state and national averages in Advanced Placement (AP) scores, SAT results, and other college and career readiness benchmarks. Innovation, creativity, and high achievement remain core to LRHSD’s mission.
Budget details, including tax impacts for each sending district, are available on the Lenape Regional High School District website: www.lrhsd.org. For additional information, contact Business Administrator Kara Huber at 609-268-2000, ext. 556500, or khuber@lrhsd.org.
4-30-25 Budget Presentation
3-19-25 Lenape Regional High School District Releases Preliminary FY26 Budget
In preparation for submission to the New Jersey Department of Education, the Lenape Regional High School District (LRHSD) Board of Education released the preliminary 2025-2026 school year budget. The total LRHSD 2025-2026 General Fund Operating Budget is $178,382,939, representing an increase from the previous year equal to 1.92%. The increase is the net difference of a 2% tax levy increase and no change in the Debt Service tax levy, which has remained the same for the past five years.
"While we are happy to report that the administration was able to balance this year’s budget without reducing student programs, it is important to recognize that this was only possible due to our persistent advocacy for budgetary relief, the difficult decisions implemented last spring, and, once again, the sacrifices of our community in the form of taxation,” stated David Stow, Finance Chair of the Board of Education.
LRHSD will experience another reduction in state aid for the upcoming fiscal year. The district faces a $567,953 cut in calculated state aid, along with the loss of $2,111,448 in Stabilization Aid, resulting in a total reduction of $2,679,401 in state funding for the 2025-2026 budget.
These reductions come despite proposed changes in Governor Phil Murphy's Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Budget Address, which aim to address longstanding concerns raised by LRHSD and other districts. However, despite these adjustments, LRHSD continues to lose state aid—a deeply disappointing outcome that highlights the urgent need for further reform to the state’s funding formula.
"These funding formula changes were intended to be a step in the right direction, but they fall short of addressing the full extent of the fiscal challenges LRHSD has faced for over 10 years," said Dr. Carol Birnbohm, Superintendent of Schools. "While we acknowledge efforts to address inequities, the continued loss of state aid remains a significant concern. Without notice or explanation, the NJDOE increased the multipliers in the Local Fair Share (LFS) calculation, placing an even greater financial burden on our taxpayers and further straining our district’s ability to provide quality educational programs and services."
Once approved by the Executive County Superintendent, the district will hold a public hearing of the budget and tax impact on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 7:30 p.m. at the K. Kiki Konstantinos Administration and Staff Development Building, 93 Willow Grove Road, Shamong, New Jersey.
The proposed General Fund Tax Levy increase of 2.00% and no Debt Service Tax Levy increase results in the tax impact outlined below:
Evesham Township – Tax levy increase of 1.80 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $46.03 on a home assessed at the township average of $272,483.
Medford Township – Tax levy decrease of 1.42 cents, resulting in a decrease in regional school taxes of $51.33 on a home assessed at the township average of $330,345.
Medford Lakes Borough - Tax levy increase of 7.24 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $219.93 on a home assessed at the borough average of $290,821.
Mt. Laurel Township – Tax levy increase of 3.24 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $88.27 on a home assessed at the township average of $239,989.
Shamong Township – Tax levy increase of 3.58 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $115.88 on a home assessed at the township average of $311,138.
Southampton Township – Tax levy decrease of 2.97 cents, resulting in a decrease in regional school taxes of $54.08 on a home assessed at the township average of $189,284.
Tabernacle Township – Tax levy increase of .51 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $11.61 on a home assessed at the township average of $274,091.
Woodland Township – Tax levy decrease of .65 cents, resulting in a decrease in regional school taxes of $19.85 on a home assessed at the township average of $255,866.