U town meeting could in the future um I'm sure after some analysis could vote on changing those rules to where we could turn that that water on uh more frequently or have uh less restrictive practices in place before we turn it on. Um, and so that might help with the water ban issue, but again, that would need to be a vote at town meeting, but there's no new um um like a new well or a new anything in town that can be brought online that that would help. No, not that I'm aware of right now. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. All right, Mark. See, Joan, you just you inspired people to I can say on this side, Do it this way. Now with the numbers four for the economic development special revenue funds of 338,593 or available meals tax. Is there anything that can inspire any sort of economical growth in this?
Um, hearing none. And seeing none, I'm going to have a um motion and second then to close the public portion of the meeting on the public hearing. Motion second. All those in favor? I oppose your I just have one um action meeting item on here that I have to get done so I can upload it to um it's called Smears. It's our uh food service app that we use. Um I need an a motion and a second to approve. Um, we have to approve. Oh, I'm sorry. We're still in the budget. Yes. I was going to stop. Sorry, guys. I was rushing to that doesn't look like neutrerve. Um, all right. So, I need a motion to second then just to approve our budget that we just had the public hearing on. Motion second. Was that Michelle was my first Stacey? I started to write an S.
Thank you. Don't No, no, but I need Miss Miss Craig, could you come forward, please? Miss Espazito. Mike, if I could get a picture All right, everybody. At this time, we'll resume the meeting and uh hand over to I believe Mr. Gorski for item four do sorry 2.4 adoption of the 2025 2026 final budget. Thank you Mr. Januzi. Um, the board of education after our committee meetings decided that they were most satisfied with the tenative budget construction and they recommended that tonight we roll out the same exact budget that we did for the tenative adoption as the final adoption. We've had no proposed changes or recommendations that have come from any administrator or member of the public. and we believe that this is a very comprehensive solid budget that provides opportunity for the most vast amount of students. So, just um procedurally, we're going to just go through some of the presentation highlights quickly from last time just so you're refamiliarized uh with the budget.
We started that last year and this budget continues to support that. Uh one of our counselors has really taken on the role of um heading our intervention and referral services which is really to help at risk students. and our other counselor has really done more of this type of work with lessons and working with students, small groups, lunch bunches, things like that. So, we're really fortunate to have two full-time counselors and this um budget will continue to support that as well as you know resources for some of these guidance programs like Character Strong um bringing in some assemblies things like that. So, um this budget continues to support this goal as well. And our last goal is really we started to really look at our technology tools. Um you know we hired Mr. Greenfield this year and he worked very closely with us to look at each of our platforms.
Um, so part of that, so part of that budget includes the business incentive program. Is that the Ashton business association and those people? No. No. So the business incentive program, Mark, so that includes a number of programs like our amenities financing program, signing facade. So it's a way again to help incentivize businesses to come here. And so what happens is when a business wants to move here but you know for whatever reason the expenses to move here whether it's out you know tenant fit out costs or rental costs or anything make it prohibitive from them to move here we have that tool available to help bridge that gap and so we've used it very successfully with things like uh Subzero Ice Cream I'm just thinking about downtown right now but Subzero Ice Cream I believe Crossroads did crossroads take advantage of it crossroads took advantage of it.
All right. Um, any questions? Okay. Can I do a roll call? Um, Mr. Davis? Yes. Mr. Phillips? Yes. Mrs. Reed? Yes. Miss Juliano? Yes. And Mrs. Oriente? Yes. All right. Perfect. And then there we go. Now, I need a motion and a second to approve um to ratify and affirm the renewal of the Neutri Serve Food Management Food Service contract for the 2526 school year. This is uh year three of a five-year agreement. Um cents per meal of $0. That's the fee. They're not charging us fee for that. A management fee of $20,800 and a projected annual loss gain of $12,000. That's gain. Um and no guarantee. So they're anticipating we're going to get that, but they're not guaranteeing it because that's obviously the safe place um to be. So the cost of the agreement is $291,47.77. That includes like their anticipated costs for the food and for any supplies and things of that nature that they need for the year.
Uh I'll read the resolution. We'll open it up for a public hearing where any member of the public has a right to comment on the budget only. Then the board will deliberate and then we'll take a vote and then we're done. So this year's budget was constructed constructed uh with the vision from Dr. Freeman in accordance with the board goals and district goals and the district's mission and vision statement. This budget is designed to support all of those goals and initiatives with financial resources that we were provided by the state and local taxpayers. So that's the DNA of the budget and we are providing education now for about an increase of 75 students each year. So the district is solidly growing which is unusual in the state of New Jersey. Many are shrinking. We are still growing and that's favorable for a district's financial health because with student growth comes additional revenues.
Um you know Genesis Rubicon Atlas we brought in paper cut as a way to um better use our copers. Uh we did usage reports on certain programs to determine how many teachers are actually using that if we're paying for it. Uh there were some we decided we're going to phase out going into next year and others we're keeping. Uh we eliminated school messenger and got parent square instead because we felt that that was more efficient for the cost. Uh we brought in Clever which was actually free but just allows our students especially at the younger grades to log into their online programs much more efficiently. Um and this is work that is still ongoing. Uh we actually have a presentation by Genesis tomorrow just to show us some other modules of their program. Um you know we use frontline for certain things. It's quite expensive.
Clover Road. Um, so you're seeing a lot of economic growth happening in town and a lot of it is being facilitated with that fund. You're not going to be surprised with my answer to that. Okay. The profits and nonprofits that is here at downtown may not help each future growth of Gen Zers coming up in businesses that can have future endeavors. Okay. The that's an interesting perspective. the stronger committees together. Sustainability is one. I had a good talk with them last night. We had a good meeting about that last night. And um the planning board, which is um losing two plans by the end of the summer. We already lost one. And and Jen's leaving to go going to her future spot. Yeah. You don't have to remind me, Mark. I know. I know. But I know I won't have this much time with our moderator, patient moderator we have.
That is a self-supporting program. We do not put money into that. Um we get state reimbursement for free and reduced lunches. They use a lot of um state food, things of that nature. So um that does not run in the red. If you remember when the auditors were here, we actually have too much money in that account. So we need to spend that down. Um, so I just need approval so I can upload that. The motion is second, please. Motion. Second.
in theory. Um it's uh providing a lot of additional resources for programs and instructions uh that has been underserved in prior years. the last two years for 2425 and 2324, we had a bumper crop of state aid and the budget grew to a more responsible um figure and uh it's closing the gap for our under adequacy which is our comparison to a state model determining how much should be sent on a school district. We are still under adequacy financially but we have made a lot of progress to close the gap. Um some of the highlights in the budget are we are incorporating in the budget a modular classroom addition to Lamont school which is part of the pea grant. It will be ready, believe it or not, by January 1st of 2026. And that's going to be very strategically advancing the size of the building, posting more students, and in theory bringing in more revenue from the pea grant because we're serving more students.
you would like to consider, you know, looking um at Genesis and continuing to explore options. So, when you go back to that slide that shows you the the one that's the minus on tech and whatever p what I know it was it was um right there. Yeah. other expenses. We were able to make significant cuts by eliminating some of the things that we felt were redundant or weren't being used enough to justify those costs. 30% reduction. That's pretty impressive. Yeah. And I think the other piece too is that some things were housed in certain lines and we tried to align them more with their purpose. So there may have been some like non I I want to say tech things and non- tech lines. So it was also a little bit of realignment. Um but you know um you know Mr. Greenfield, Miss Pearson, Mrs.
So I'm just gonna This is why I'm here tonight, okay, to still give a push and saying that the state could help Asha a lot more than it's not doing now. And that includes the representatives and send Jack and Karen since they both live one of them lives here. Karen does that he she can actually make this town a little more her speed and I know that the community center I have read a lot about the community center lately and this this we are an Asian community and we could use the help for that and for other reasons down the road. That's it for now. All right. Thanks Mark. All right. I don't see any other questions. So, uh, I'll move on to article five, um, which is a transfer to our OPE trust. OPE being other post-employment benefits, um, essentially retirey health insurance. And, uh, this is part of our plan that we utilize to um, basically address this long-term obligation that we now have to uh, maintain on the books.
Any questions? Mr. Davis? Yes. Mr. Phillips? Yes. Mrs. Reed? Yes. Miss Juliano? Yes. Mrs. Orient? Yes. All right. Um, I'm not going to open up the meeting for the public again. Mrs. Gray, unless you want to speak to us. She's like, "Nope." All right. So, at this point, then we'll just I need a motion, a second to adjourn the meeting, please. Second. All those in favor? I oppose or abstain. All right. Great. Thank you guys. Thank you. Thank you everyone. That was quick and painless. Yes. Second.
We're able to fit more in our program. We have six additional staff. There was an error before. We don't have seven. The assistant superintendent was already established and then it's in the budget. So, we have one bilingual math teacher, three high school teachers, a math, science, and social studies, two special ed teachers, and that's a total of six. Health insurance costs are one of the highest appropriation line items in the budget. Our initial projection was 19.5% increase. That's um just doesn't fit and it's unsustainable. We negotiated that from 19.5 to 17.4 4 to 13.5 and we've we concluded when we hit 12.5. So the last three years our health insurance rates have increased 7% per year on average which is significantly under the state health benefits program. Uh we have many new curriculum adoptions, uh many new additions thank to uh Robin Griffin and um special ed programs, bilingual programs especially.
Panetti, uh, Diane, like we all really sat and and you know, and I do still think like we should continue to look at this because especially when you're renewing certain platforms. Um, sometimes they put things into the contract kind of know like with your cell phone bill, all of a sudden you're like, wait, did we really need that? So, you know, we are really going over every platform and contract with a fine tooth comb and saying we didn't have that last year. We don't really need it. Don't put it in. You know, so um it is ongoing work, but it really has allowed us, you know, to be more efficient, um and and put our resources where we really want those resources directed. The other thing that's impacting the budget is our enrollment. Um, these are our projected enrollment numbers for next year. Kindergarten is still coming in.
Um, so what this aspect of the of our OPED plan is is that so for every new municipal employee we bring on, we pay their what's called the annual required contribution, basically their OPE contribution amount. We've got a budget for it. Um, and so we maintain um, we go ahead and budget for that and then we move that money to what's known as an OPED trust. It's a special account uh, set aside specifically for OPED benefits and can only be used for OPED benefits as well. And I'll have to say the plan that we have just as an aside is working. Um, so one of the the best metric that you can use to determine how well you are um catching up on your long-term obligation is something called funded ratio, which is okay, how much of your obligation do you have set aside in funds.
We've doubled down on our bilingual um resources in the last few years and we have a very respectable program now thanks to Claudia Heist and uh $2 million is going toward capital projects, $900,000 for new equipment. So in summary, without much additional contribution from the local taxpayers, the Bound Brook Board of Education in the 2526 budget is providing for a third year of a very comprehensive budget with significant additional educational resources to support our staff and teachers and students and educators with technology and everything that's needed. So at this time I would like to read the resolution and then open it up for public comment and then board deliberation and then a vote. So, as recommended by the superintendent of schools, be it resolved by the Boundwork Board of Education that the 2526 final general fund budget be adopted in the amount of 58 million 023 282 and a final general fund local tax levy in the amount of 14,244,882 and a final special revenue fund in the amount of $3,74,533 and a final debt service budget.
Um, last year at about this time, I think we were in the low30s and we were really like panicking a little bit. We ended up having, you know, um, as you could see over 50 students, you know, and so that rolled into three sections. I think currently we're at about 38 or so. So, we're pretty confident based on our experience last year that we'll get to those three sections. What we do have, however, is our incoming fourth grade is even smaller than the it's about the same size or smaller than the incoming fourth grade was last year. So, what I am recommending is that we run two sections in both fourth grade and fifth grade next year. Um and we will put two teachers in one section and a teacher and an aid in the other sections in both of those. Um, as I said, you know, our special education needs will decrease over the next few years and therefore as these these larger numbers start to come in, we will have staff to be able to put back into those um once those smaller cohorts graduate because our special larger special ed numbers will be moving out if that makes sense.
When we started this process about uh 10 years ago, we had zero. Um we're now over 10%. I believe we're closer to 12%. So we're making uh slow and steady progress which is uh something that we like to see. It's something that our bond rating agencies like to see uh which are bond rating agencies are very very important uh to communities in terms of basically what's the best evaluating and providing an analysis or an assessment of our financial condition. And uh it's essentially the right thing to do. Uh and I think the plan the way that we have it set up is is pretty pretty well designed. And I think again the proof is in the pudding just seeing where we started and where we are. We are making slow but steady uh we're catching up slowly but steadily um on our obligation.