School tax bill rises 6.7% while student numbers fall

What happened

Howell's state-filed 2026-27 budget raises the local school tax levy to $99.4 million, up from $93.2 million, an increase of about $6.2 million or 6.7%. Over the same period the district expects 5,912 students in October 2026, down from 6,063 two years earlier. Spending per student rises to a planned $22,515, up from $21,618 in the revised 2025-26 budget.

Why it matters to families

The levy is the part of the budget paid by Howell property taxpayers, so a 6.7% increase shows up on local tax bills. Fewer students with a bigger budget also means the cost of each student's education is climbing faster than the number of students is falling, which is the pattern that drives later decisions about staffing and which buildings stay open.

The evidence

The district's 2026-27 user-friendly budget summary, filed with the New Jersey Department of Education and generated July 14, 2026, lists a local tax levy of $99,415,971 for 2026-27 against $93,186,274 revised for 2025-26 and $90,236,045 actual for 2024-25. The same filing reports on-roll enrollment of 6,063 (October 2024), 5,934 (October 2025) and 5,912 estimated (October 2026), and a total budgetary comparative per-pupil cost of $22,515 proposed for 2026-27.

The source