Montclair School Vote

Montclair has scheduled a special election on Tuesday, March 10th to decide how the community will fund the outstanding and structural deficits in the school district.

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Montclair School Vote: March 10, 2026. Polls open 3 PM – 8 PM. Vote by mail: application

The special election provides the community the opportunity to resolve the fiscal crisis through two yes or no questions. A Yes/Yes vote would resolve the crisis and avoid the imposition of a State Monitor.

Yes to the first question will raise a temporary levy to cover the current $12.6m deficit in the school district. Yes to the second question will raise a permanent levy of $5m to fund the ongoing structural deficit. Note, the original special election, which was proposed for Tuesday, December 9th, proposed an increase of $7.6m. The version, as it stands now, reflects a $2.6m decrease to $5m.

The Montclair School Vote

The Questions on the Ballot

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Question Number 1: The Board of Education of the Township of Montclair in the County of Essex shall raise an additional $12,600,000 from taxes over the amount raised in the last Annual School Budget to cover a prior deficit from the 2024-2025 school year. Approval of these taxes will result in a onetime increase to the district’s tax levy. These expenditures are in addition to those required to achieve New Jersey Student Learning Standards.

The Montclair Board of Education provides the following interpretive statement for Budgetary Spending Question Number 1:

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If approved by the voters, the funds will be used to pay outstanding debts and obligations due and owing from the previous school year. The tax will be non-recurring and will not be built into the base tax levy on which future years’ tax increase limits are based.

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Question Number 2: The Board of Education of the Township of Montclair in the County of Essex shall raise an additional $5,000,000 from taxes over the amount raised for the current (2025-2026) Annual School Budget for general fund operating expenses for the 2025-2026 school year. Approval of these taxes will result in a permanent increase to the district’s tax levy. These expenditures are in addition to those required to achieve New Jersey Student Learning Standards.

The Montclair Board of Education provides the following interpretive statement for Budgetary Spending Question Number 2:

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If approved by the voters, the funds will be used for general fund operating expenses, including, but not limited to: reducing the impact of reductions in force among teaching staff, security staff and support staff; addressing ongoing maintenance needs; and mitigating the impact of cuts to athletics, co-curricular and extracurricular programs. Approval of this tax levy increase will be built into the base tax levy on which future years’ tax increase limits are based.

What are the Consequences of My Vote?

No to the first question will trigger emergency funding from the state in the form of a $12.6m loan over a ten-year term. The funding will be overseen by a state monitor who will have absolute control over the school board and the district. Their sole objective is to cut school district expenses and raise money to pay back the debt. They will have all options available to them, but they will center on those over which they have immediate control: cutting expenses, selling assets, and raising taxes.

No to the second question will trigger emergency funding from the state in the form of a $7.6m loan over a ten-year term. The funding will be overseen by a state monitor. Again, they will have absolute control and focus entirely on cutting expenses, selling assets, and raising taxes.

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What is a State Monitor? A state monitor is defined by NJ Rev Stat § 18A:7A-55 (2024). They oversee the fiscal management and expenditures of school district funds, facilities, and staffing, so they can enact a plan to address the deficiencies that led to the appointment of the state monitor. The statute only addresses fiscal matters. It does not define the educational standard the state monitor is expected to maintain or achieve. The singular goal for the state monitor is to use their position and authority to close budget gaps through spending cuts, staffing cuts, asset-sales, and the discontinuation of programs such as clubs and athletics. For a detailed analysis of the New Jersey State Monitor Program, please refer to the MPACT explainer on the New Jersey State Monitor Program.

What are some resources that will help me make my decision?

The Montclair community has come together to address the Montclair Public School Distric's fiscal crisis through two groups. They have distinguished themselves through their careful analysis, organization and transparency. These are: Save Montclair Schools; and the Montclair Partnership for Accountability, Clarity and Trust.

And, of course, I hope that the the posts on this website will help provide insights into how New Jersey funds its schools and how that has undermined Montclair Public School District's finances.

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