In preparation for submission to the New Jersey Department of Education, the Lenape Regional High School District (LRHSD) Board of Education released the preliminary 2026-2027 school year budget. The total General Fund Operating Budget is $185,725,334, representing an increase from the previous year equal to 4.11%. The total tax levy is slated to increase 4.43% when you combine the general fund and debt service tax levy.
LRHSD is pleased to learn that the district is slated to receive an increase in state aid equal to $1,101,830 for the upcoming fiscal year. After eight straight years of state aid loss, this infusion of funds was needed to prevent further loss of programs and activities.
“We are pleased to put forth a balanced budget that preserves our current staff and protects the diverse range of programs and activities that define the LRHSD experience,” said LRHSD Superintendent Matt Webb. “We extend our deepest gratitude to our Board of Education, staff, and community for their unwavering advocacy. It is clear that our collective voice moved the needle and helped secure these vital results.”
LRHSD Board of Education Member and Finance Chair, David Stow points out, “While this increase is a welcome step forward, it does not erase the impact of years of underfunding, nor does it fully cover astronomical increases in healthcare costs. We look forward to the Governor fulfilling her commitment to modernize the funding formula and rein in healthcare costs, ensuring that every student is funded fairly and sustainably for years to come.”
Once approved by the Executive County Superintendent, the district will hold a public hearing of the budget and tax impact on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, 7:30 p.m. at the K. Kiki Konstantinos Administration and Staff Development Building, 93 Willow Grove Road, Shamong, New Jersey.
The proposed tax levy increase results in the tax impact outlined below:
Evesham Township – Tax levy increase of 3.04 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $93.96 on a home assessed at the township average of $273,776.
Medford Township – Tax levy increase of 2.24 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $80.33 on a home assessed at the township average of $331,100.
Medford Lakes Borough – Tax levy increase of 8.38 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $248.02 on a home assessed at the borough average of $291,200.
Mt. Laurel Township – Tax levy increase of 2.93 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $81.57 on a home assessed at the township average of $241,292.
Shamong Township – Tax levy increase of 5.62 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $182.35 on a home assessed at the township average of $311,891.
Southampton Township – Tax levy increase of 9.49 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $183.99 on a home assessed at the township average of $189,706.
Tabernacle Township – Tax levy increase of 2.24 cents, resulting in an increase in regional school taxes of $62.42 on a home assessed at the township average of $274,198.
Woodland Township – Tax levy decrease of .62 cents, resulting in a decrease in regional school taxes of $8.30 on a home assessed at the township average of $256,948.
About LRHSD – The Lenape Regional High School District’s four high schools – Lenape, Shawnee, Cherokee and Seneca – as well as the Sequoia Alternative and Transition to Adulthood Programs, educate approximately 6,600 students from eight communities in Burlington County, NJ. The communities served include Evesham, Medford, Medford Lakes, Mount Laurel, Shamong, Southampton, Tabernacle, and Woodland. The Lenape Regional District is among the highest-achieving districts in the state, with an average graduation rate of 96.2% and an average combined SAT score of 1121. A leader in progressive education, the LRHSD’s mission is to develop physically and emotionally healthy students who excel in an ever-changing world.
