Frequently Asked Questions

Tuesday, April 25, 2023.  Polls will be open 7a.m. - 8 p.m. 

On April 25, 2023, Westfield voters approved the 2023-2024 School District Operating Budget. The Union County Board of County Canvassers certified the results on May 8. 

1. Before 2010, the district budget was voted on annually by the Westfield community in April.  The average tax levy increase was 4.9%.

2. In 2011- 2012, the State of New Jersey reduced the amount of aid it provides school districts by 65%; this resulted in reductions in excess of $4-million made to the Westfield Public Schools operating budget. The State also placed a 2% cap, with eligible adjustments, on tax levy increases for districts opting out of a community vote on the district budget.

3. Until last school year, the District was able to submit budgets at cap with minimal reductions due to proactive changes. Two years of a global pandemic and the related economic disruptions to supply chains and labor markets have contributed to sharply rising costs in health benefits, transportation, out of district tuition, supplies and equipment, and other expenditures which severely outpace the District’s sources of revenue.

4. Moving the Board election from November to April will simultaneously lift the District out from under the state mandated 2% tax levy cap and afford the taxpayers the opportunity to directly vote on a school budget that not only supports the staff who provide a high quality education for our students, but enables the District to move forward with enhanced programs and initiatives to further that education.

The two questions are mandated by the State if a District needs to exceed the 2% cap.

• The 1st question includes the portion of the base school district operating budget at a 3.95% tax levy cap, which reflects State Aid and eligible adjustments and includes enhancements to the state/federally-mandated English as a Second Language (ESL) Program.

•  The 2nd question seeks an additional 0.89% increase to the tax levy for additional staffing for the district’s academic support and school counseling programs.

Extensive details, including ballot questions, are posted on this Budget Portal.

• Question 1 includes the portion of the base school district operating budget at a 3.95% tax levy cap which reflects State Aid and eligible adjustments and includes all existing staff and programs, along with enhancements to the state/federally-mandated English as a Second Language (ESL) Program.

• Question 2 seeks an additional 0.89% increase to the tax levy for additional staffing for the district’s academic support and school counseling programs.  

  1. • If Q1 passes and Q2 passes, the district proceeds as planned and budgeted for the 2023-2024 school year. The following year, the tax levy starting point would be Q1+Q2.

     • If Q1 passes and Q2 fails, the district proceeds with the status quo and cannot add any of the Q2 additional items. The following year, the tax levy starting point would be Q1 only.

     • If Q1 fails and Q2 passes, the town will review and decide what, if any, reductions are made to the 2023-2024 budget and the district proceeds into the 2023-2024 school year with the revised budget while also implementing the items that were approved in Q2. The following year, the tax levy starting point would be the adjusted Q1+Q2.

Based on the assessed value and school tax of the average Westfield home,  the total proposed tax increase for the average Westfield homeowner to support the 2023-2024 school district operating budget would be 4.84% or $444 annually ($37 per month).  

Yes.  A variety of community engagement sessions have been scheduled in March and April to allow multiple opportunities for Westfield voters to hear about the 2023-2024 school district operating budget and to get their questions answered before going to the polls on Tuesday, April 25.  The list of community engagement sessions -- some remote, some in-person -- are posted on this Budget Vote portal under “Community Engagement.”  Please also know that Westfield residents can submit questions via a form on the Budget portal entitled “We Want to Hear from You!” 

This Budget Vote portal will be updated throughout the budget process as information is disseminated to the Board.  

For those Westfield residents who are newly eligible to vote or who have not yet registered, please know that the deadline to register to vote is April 4 (21 days before the Budget Vote / Board Election on April 25). Learn more HERE.

Please visit the Voter Registration page on this site to learn more.  You also can reach out to the Office of the Union County Clerk in the Election Division at (908) 527-4996 or ucvote@ucnj.org. 

Residents will report to the same voting location they use for the November general elections.  Information regarding the ballot and voting locations will be mailed to taxpayers by the county in the weeks leading up to the election.