South Orange-Maplewood School District
State budget reportEssex County · 2026-27 budget, from New Jersey Department of Education files. Budgets are set for a whole district, so every school in it shares these figures.
Spending
- Day-to-day spending2025-26: $170M → 2026-27: $173.4M (+2%)The general fund's current expense: salaries, benefits, supplies and services. Not building projects or debt.
- Employee benefits2025-26: $22.8M → 2026-27: $28.8M (+25.9%)16.6% of day-to-day spending.Essex County median +19.2% · New Jersey median +18.2%
- Everything else2025-26: $147.1M → 2026-27: $144.7M (-1.7%)Essex County median +0.1% · New Jersey median +0.5%
Where the money comes from
- Local school tax levy2025-26: $141.8M → 2026-27: $149.6M (+5.5%)Essex County median +4.9% · New Jersey median +5%
- State school aidUp $656,320 from last year State aid file
- Surplus budgeted to balance the budget2025-26: $11.4M → 2026-27: $9.4MPlanned amount, not what is left in reserve. Does not include capital or maintenance reserve withdrawals.
Teachers
- Students per teacher2021-22: 10.9 → 2024-25: 11.5Essex County median 11.4 · New Jersey median 10.7
- Median teacher salary2024-25: $83,885Essex County median $85,163 · New Jersey median $78,587
Medians are across districts whose budgets are comparable; services commissions and districts outside the state aid formula are left out.