MIDDLETOWN, N.J. — As the Middletown school board prepares to vote on a proposed 10.09% tax levy increase for the 2025–26 school year, at least two board members say they will oppose the measure, claiming it only delays inevitable school closures.
Board members Jacqueline Tobacco and Frank Capone have announced plans to vote against the budget during Wednesday night’s session, citing the burden it would place on taxpayers and the lack of any educational benefit from the tax hike.
“I cannot support a school budget that imposes a 10.1 percent tax hike… that provides no increase in educational benefits and merely delays the inevitable school closures,” Tobacco said on social media.
Key Points
- Middletown’s proposed school budget includes a 10.09% tax levy increase, raising total school taxes to $176.6 million.
- Board members Jacqueline Tobacco and Frank Capone plan to vote no, citing lack of educational gains.
- Gubernatorial candidate Bill Spadea doesn’t seem like he’ll be much help to Middletown either if elected governor.
$176M school tax proposal draws strong opposition
The proposed school budget would raise Middletown’s school tax levy from $160,435,093 to $176,634,681, a jump of over $16 million. This 10.09% increase is significantly higher than past years, prompting strong pushback from fiscal conservatives on the board.
Tobacco and Capone argue the budget is a short-term fix that fails to address long-term structural issues in the district. Rejecting the budget could trigger the district’s contingency plan — closing multiple schools to reduce costs permanently.
District officials have not released which schools could face closure if the contingency plan is activated, but the scenario reflects the ongoing fiscal strain public schools across New Jersey are experiencing.
Spadea maintains hardline stance on school funding
Adding to the pressure, Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Spadea has publicly refused to increase education funding if elected, reiterating a position he’s held since at least 2019. Spadea previously criticized the Toms River school district for attempting to repair basic infrastructure, including leaky roofs and asbestos removal.
At the time, he told students to wear jackets in class rather than approve funding to fix failing HVAC systems — a sentiment he’s echoed in his criticism of school spending and the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA).
There has been no indication of additional aid from the Murphy administration for Middletown, leaving local taxpayers and school officials with few financial alternatives.
Budget vote to determine fate of district schools
If the board votes down the proposed budget, Middletown could move forward with previously drafted plans for school closures, a scenario that would drastically reshape the district and potentially impact thousands of students.
Wednesday night’s vote will be closely watched by residents and state officials alike, as it may set a precedent for how New Jersey districts respond to rising education costs amid flat or declining state support.
Middletown braces for tough choices as school board weighs steep tax hike or school closures.
