Bill
Bill > A1236
NJ A1236
NJ A1236Requires Type II school district without board of school estimate holding its school election in November to receive voter approval of base budget.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Pursuant to P.L.2011, c.202 (C.19:60-1.1 et al.), procedures were established whereby the annual school election in a Type II school district could be moved from April to the date of the general election. A school election held in November is only for the purpose of electing the district's board members and for voting on any proposal for additional funds above the school district's tax levy cap. For a school district which holds its annual school election in November, no voter approval is required for the base budget. This bill will return to voters residing in school districts in which the annual school election has been moved to November the right to approve or disapprove the district's base budget. Under the provisions of this bill, a voter at the November school election will have the right to vote on the same matters that are presented to a voter at an April school election. Under the provisions of this bill, a school district with a November school election will continue to submit its budget to the commissioner by March 20, except that this budget will be a temporary budget for the upcoming school year. As current law provides, the secretary of the board of education by May 19 will certify the amount fixed and determined by the school board to the county board of taxation and the amount certified will be included in the taxes levied and collected in the municipality or municipalities comprising the district. If the voters approve the budget at the November school election, the temporary budget will be the final budget for the district for that school year. If the voters disapprove the budget, the budget will be submitted to the governing body of each of the municipalities included within the district for determination of the amount that should be expended notwithstanding voter rejection, as is the process under current law for defeated school budgets. If under this process the general fund tax levy of the district is reduced, or if the voters in November fail to approve any separate proposal on the ballot to spend above cap, then the secretary of the board of education will re-certify to the county board of taxation the sum or sums to be raised for that school year.
AI Summary
This bill requires that Type II school districts (districts with elected boards of education) that have moved their school elections from April to November must now receive voter approval for their base budget, a right previously removed when the election date was changed. Previously, under a law enacted in 2011 (P.L.2011, c.202), school elections held in November were only for electing board members and voting on additional funds beyond the tax levy cap; the base budget did not require voter approval. This bill restores the voters' right to approve or reject the district's entire budget, including the base amount, in November, aligning the November election with the matters presented in an April election. The bill also outlines procedures for submitting a temporary budget by March 20, with the final budget determined by voter approval in November, or by municipal governing bodies if voters reject it, mirroring the process for defeated budgets in April.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A1236 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A1500/1236_I1.HTM |
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