Is Your Tax Bill Increasing? Ridgewood BOE Set to Vote on 3.78% School Tax Hike
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
RIDGEWOOD, NJ — The Ridgewood Board of Education is convening a critical Special Public Meeting this Wednesday, March 18, 2026, to discuss a proposed school tax levy increase that could impact thousands of local homeowners.
As the district balances rising operational costs with educational excellence, residents are encouraged to participate in the decision-making process. Here is everything you need to know about the fiscal proposal and how to make your voice heard tonight.
The Numbers: What the Proposed Increase Means for You
The Board is proposing a total tax levy increase of 3.78%. This figure is composed of the standard 2% state-mandated cap, plus a 1.78% “allowable health benefits adjustment” (out of a total 2.80% available to the district).
For the average assessed home in Ridgewood ($715,000), the estimated financial impact is broken down as follows:
| Impact Period | Estimated Cost |
| Yearly Increase | $499.78 |
| Monthly Increase | $41.65 |
Note: These figures include the impact of Debt Service.
How to Attend and Participate
The Board of Education is offering multiple ways for residents to view the proceedings and offer public comments.
1. In-Person Attendance
Head to the Education Center to witness the meeting in person and speak during the public comment period.
2. Virtual Attendance (Zoom)
Join from your PC, Mac, iPad, or smartphone:
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Meeting ID: 870 1302 7741
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To Comment: Use the “Raise Hand” feature during the public portion.
3. Call-In Option
Dial 646-558-8656 and enter the Meeting ID above.
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To Comment: Press *9 to enter the speaking queue.
4. Watch Only (No Commenting)
If you simply wish to stay informed without speaking, you can stream the meeting via:
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District Website: BOE Webcast portal.
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Television: Fios Channel 33.
Why This Matters for Ridgewood Residents
Property taxes remain a top-of-mind issue for Bergen County homeowners. This meeting serves as a transparent window into how the district utilizes the health benefits adjustment and manages the 2% cap while maintaining the high standards of Ridgewood Public Schools.
Public participation is vital. Whether you support the investment in school infrastructure and staff or have concerns about the rising cost of living, tonight is your opportunity to speak directly to the Board.
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Tags:
#RidgewoodNJ#BergenCounty#SchoolBudget#PropertyTaxes#Education#LocalGovernment
good thing you gave up the budget vote
wow ..screwed
increase class sizes and you won’t need so many teachers
increase co-pays for the cadillac insurance plans, or better yet, let them buy their own medical insurance on getcoverednj.com and reimburse them
We are already facing a national shortage of teachers. Far less younger people want to enter the profession. Decreasing benefits will do nothing but discourage more people from teaching jobs. As veteran educators continue the retire things will only get worse.
We should address the real issues such as the out of control healthcare costs!
as a lifelong taxpayer in Ridgewood why should teachers have a better plan than me> Im paying their salaries
No no no….you don’t get to push it off on HC costs…IT”S YOU. And YOUR union. We, as taxpayers have had it. You have a $130 MILLION DOLLAR budget per year and you can’t make it work??? You and NJEA can go stick your heads up yer arses.
dummies gave up their right to vote on the budget , the true end of Ridgewood as a quality town
And that’s just School tax, then you have municipal tax, then you have county tax, and then US state tax, so what is going to be the total on average $750,000 house in Ridgewood.
I told you five years ago it’s going to be expensive
They contracted 3.5% increase for salary for five years. This is just the first year. Expect this type of increase every year!!
Total disgrace to hard working homeowners. Instead of raising taxes to pay for health care costs have the staff contribute more. That’s what happens in the real world. Employees pay more as costs go up every year.
Thank Winograd for eliminating our vote
This “busing” scare has distracted residents from the “vendor contract restructuring” conversation that needs to take place after the Business Administrator brought all his friends in from Paterson.
ACB custodians
Monello Landscaping
Fairview Insurance (and the SuperPac connected)
Alamo Insurance
And architect contracts
After providing incentives to groups, now comes the ask from the BoE