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On Tuesday, April 25, Westfield residents will go to the polls to vote on the 2023-2024 school district operating budget. The last time there was a public vote on the school district budget was more than a decade ago and I am excited by the opportunity to put this important investment in our students and our schools back into the hands of the Westfield community.
We currently have 5,989 students in grades Pre-K-12 supported by our school district operating budget. Our mission is to educate them to reach their highest potential and to become productive and engaged citizens of Westfield, our nation, and the world.
That level of sustained investment in the educational excellence of our schools requires a committed partnership between the school district and the community, one that has existed historically and for which we are extremely grateful. A strong school system is essential to a prosperous and vibrant Westfield.
In developing the 2023-2024 budget, the administration and Board of Education worked hard to balance fiscal responsibility with the desire to move the school district forward. For years, constrained by a state-mandated 2% cap on tax levy increases, we have continued to provide our students with an exemplary education. Nevertheless, we were forced to make the very difficult decision last year to reduce our staff, as the unsustainability of the 2% tax levy cap finally caught up to us.
For the 2023-2024 school year, we propose a total increase to the local tax levy of 4.84% which, based on the assessed value and school tax of the average Westfield home, equates to an annual increase of $444 from the current school year. That’s $37 per month for the average taxpayer.
When voters go to the polls on April 25, there will be two questions related to the school district operating budget on the ballot. Those questions will not include a percent; rather, they will indicate the total dollar amounts to be raised. Here is how it breaks down:
Question 1 includes the portion of the school district’s base budget that reflects State aid and health care adjustments for a 3.95% total tax levy increase. Existing staff, programs, and offerings are reflected in Question 1. If it is not approved by the voters, the budget will go to the Town Council who can make line-item changes in order to reduce the tax levy, which may impact existing staffing and programs.
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. If it is not approved, these additional supports would not be implemented and funds could not be reallocated for the 2023-2024 school year.
We feel that the 2023-2024 school district operating budget reflects a thorough and thoughtful approach to public education in Westfield. It is a modest first step toward building a budget that can sustain continued growth and expansion of our school district, always mindful of the impact on the taxpayer.
We also are in the process of developing a Strategic Plan, a creative blueprint that will outline our priorities and vision for 2023-2028 and will help to inform future budgets. The strategic planning process is something educational institutions undergo every five years or so, Westfield among them.
Lastly, as voters prepare to vote on the 2023-2024 school district budget, consider this:
92% of the school district’s operating budget relies on the local tax levy.
More than 80% of the operating budget is spent on staff salaries and benefits.
Teachers and paraprofessionals account for more than 75% of our staffing.
The Tradition of Excellence in the Westfield Public School District is proven year after year by the success of our graduates. Ninety-nine percent of Westfield High School seniors graduate, while 93% of them pursue further education. This is a result of a comprehensive, consistent, and well-articulated educational program, which begins the moment a student steps into our schools as a kindergartner or first grader and continues throughout their educational journey.
I am confident that, by beginning to expand on the strength of our school district in creative and innovative ways, we can ensure the Tradition of Excellence for generations of students to come.
In order to make an informed decision, I encourage all Westfield voters to visit the April Budget Vote portal at www.westfieldnjk12.org, which includes the user-friendly budget, ballot language for Questions 1 and 2, a list of Community Engagement Sessions, and much more. And I urge all of you to go to the polls on Tuesday, April 25 to cast your vote.
With greatest appreciation,
Raymond A. González, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Westfield Public Schools
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