Paterson Schools Face Tax Hike, Teacher Shortage

The district’s financial situation is dire, and it remains to be seen whether the district will be able to meet the demands of a growing population and a lack of resources.

Paterson Public School district has a $710.4 million budget for 2024-2025, which is $53.7 million more than last year, and this increase would require an 8% tax hike for residents. The big increase is due to a substantial rise in costs for salaries and benefits, as well as increased spending on buses, out-of-district tuition for students with disabilities, and charter school tuition.

The district also has 140 teaching vacancies and relies heavily on substitutes. The situation is further complicated by the fact that Paterson has a high number of charter schools, which are generally considered to be more competitive than traditional district schools. The increasing enrollment in charter schools has led to a strain on the district’s resources, as the district works to maintain staffing and programs in traditional schools while also responding to the growing demand for charter schools.

The district is projecting an allocation of $123,434,158 in total tuition to city charter schools in 2024, which represents a substantial increase from the previous year.