Robbinsville voters will decide today, March 10, whether to approve a proposed $5.03 million school tax increase aimed at addressing ongoing budget pressures in the Robbinsville Public School District.
The special referendum asks residents to authorize the district to exceed New Jersey’s 2% tax levy cap in order to stabilize school finances and avoid additional program and staffing reductions.
For the average Robbinsville home assessed at $380,000, the increase would amount to about $29.50 per month in 2026 and $59.33 per month in 2027.
District officials said the 2026 figure reflects a partial-year impact, since the additional funding would be incorporated into the 2026–27 school budget following the March 10 vote. The full annualized impact would take effect in 2027, along with the standard 2% levy increase permitted under state law.
Officials emphasized that while approval would permanently increase the school tax levy, future annual increases would remain subject to the state’s 2% cap.
Actual household impacts will vary based on individual property assessments and changes in township ratables.
District officials say the referendum is needed to address a long-standing structural budget deficit driven by rising expenses, limits on state aid, and constraints imposed by the state’s property tax cap.
Board members have cited a projected decline of about $300,000 in state aid combined with the levy cap as key factors contributing to an annual operating shortfall of roughly $1.7 million.
Over time, that gap has compounded into nearly $23 million in foregone revenue, according to board discussions. Superintendent Patrick Pizzo has said the district is now facing a critical funding crossroads.
Under state law, school districts are generally limited to increasing property taxes by no more than 2% annually.
Districts seeking to exceed that cap must obtain voter approval through a referendum. If voters reject a levy-cap referendum, the school board is required to adopt a budget that stays within the state-mandated limit.
According to the district’s website, approval of the ballot question would allow Robbinsville to maintain up to 22 teachers and staff positions that otherwise would be eliminated, preventing class size increases and preserving elective courses, athletic teams and student clubs.
Superintendent Patrick Pizzo has said the district is projecting a shortfall of approximately $5 million over the next two school years, driven by rising operational costs, inflation, increasing special education and transportation expenses, and ongoing limitations in state aid.
While costs continue to rise, Pizzo said the district’s revenue options remain limited, making local funding a critical part of the budget conversation.
District officials have emphasized that the imbalance is not the result of mismanagement, but a historical funding issue that has already led to significant reductions.
Over the past three years, the district has already eliminated about 30 staff positions, contributing to larger class sizes and reduced academic and extracurricular offerings.
If the referendum is not approved, Pizzo said the district would be forced to eliminate more than 20 classroom teaching positions, nine additional student-facing educator roles, and support staff, with impacts felt across instruction, student services and the overall learning environment.
“This referendum is not about expansion. It is about stability,” Pizzo said.
District officials have said that if the referendum is rejected, the board would be required to adopt a budget that includes significant reductions.
While the exact scope would be determined during the budget development process, officials warned that options would be limited given existing staffing levels and the cuts already made.
Pizzo has also noted that Robbinsville is not alone in facing these pressures, saying a growing number of New Jersey school districts are grappling with similar challenges as rising costs, inflation and evolving state funding structures strain local budgets.
The upcoming referendum follows earlier efforts by the district to stabilize its finances.
In November 2023, voters rejected a $4.8 million public question placed on the general election ballot. Voters later approved a smaller $2.75 million tax levy increase in a March 2024 special election, allowing the district to incorporate additional funds into its 2024–25 budget.
At the time, then-Superintendent Brian Betze said projected expenses for the 2024–25 budget were expected to rise by about $3 million, while the district was limited to a 2% levy increase of roughly $825,500.
“The $4.8 didn’t pass because it was too high,” Betze said. “So now we’re figuring that we need at least $2.75 million for the 2024–25 school year to avoid significant cuts to the district.”
Detailed budget documents, financial reports and presentation materials are available on the district’s website at robbinsvillek12.gov.
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