Michelle Baldino

The meeting agenda included several key items. A presentation and public hearing were scheduled for the Proposed FY2026-2027 Budget. Discussion items covered the Proposed FY2026-2027 Budget, a Shared Services Agreement with the Borough of Paramus, and the Purchase of Goods and Services, alongside Personnel Items. An Executive Session was planned to discuss personnel, contract negotiations, and matters protected by attorney-client privilege. The action items covered the approval of the Budget, the Shared Services Agreement, Purchases of Goods and Services, and Personnel Items.

The meeting commenced with the consideration of the fiscal year budget presentation for 2027. Key discussion points focused on the budget's underlying assumptions, including projecting a 1% increase in academic enrollment, leading to an expected 107,910 academic credit hours. Tuition was projected to increase by 4%, equivalent to $7 per credit hour, and adjustments were made to various course fees based on cost analysis. Regarding appropriations, the budget anticipated a 2% increase in state funding and a 3% increase in county support, alongside utilizing $1 million from fund balance. Expense projections assumed stable staffing, consistent with the current year, though healthcare costs showed a significant 32% total increase. Discussions also covered the appropriate use of fund balance reserves and confirmed that anticipated federal grant cuts were not factored into the current budget assumptions.

The board meeting primarily focused on the audit presentation for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025. The audit report resulted in three clean opinions, indicating unmodified opinions on the financial statements, no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in internal controls over financial reporting or compliance, and no findings in the federal and state single audit regarding major programs. Key financial discussions included the recording of an $8 million loan payable related to the Energy Savings Improvement Program refunding bonds, which increased net position substantially due to associated fixed assets. While the unrestricted fund balance on a budgetary basis increased by approximately $3 million to $13.1 million, the presentation noted a slight dip in full-time equivalence enrollment, which management attributed to economic improvement. The board also approved adding a 3+1 degree program in Criminal Justice with William Patterson University, designated items for continued participation in the state library system's purchasing cooperative, and moved to executive session to discuss personnel and contract matters protected by attorney privilege, with no action taken in that session.

The meeting agenda for the Board of Trustees included several key components. Academic items discussed involved an addendum to the 3+1 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with William Paterson University concerning Criminal Justice degrees and the appointment of representatives to PALS Plus, Inc. A business item concerned the purchase of goods and services. Personnel items were also on the agenda. The Board considered a resolution to meet in Executive Session to discuss personnel, contract negotiations, and matters protected by attorney-client privilege. Action items, presented as a Consent Resolution, covered the MOU addendum, PALS Plus representation, the purchase of goods and services (including camera equipment, IT hardware, library materials, and studio equipment), and personnel matters such as separations, appointments, tenure recommendations, and part-time temporary appointments.

The meeting agenda included an Open Public Meetings Act Announcement, Roll Call, and Organization of the Board with the Election of Officers. Key discussion items involved a presentation on Pre-College Programs, departmental reports from the President and Chairman, and several agenda items for discussion: Policy regarding the Adoption of Annual Meeting Calendar, an Academic Item for Change in Nomenclature for Computer Information Technology, a Business Item concerning the Purchase of Goods and Services, and Personnel Items. The agenda also included a resolution to meet in Executive Session to discuss personnel, contract negotiations, and privileged matters, followed by Action Items formalizing approvals for the calendar adoption, nomenclature change, purchase of goods and services, and personnel matters.