https://patch.com/new-jersey/hillsborough/hillsborough-board-education-general-election-2025-jean-trujillo
The following statements are made in my capacity as a private citizen, and not in my capacity as a Hillsborough Township school board member. These statements are also not representative of the board or its individual members, and solely represent my own personal opinions.
Name: Jean Trujillo
Age: 54
Town of residence: Hillsborough
Position sought: Hillsborough Board of Education
Family: Married with 3 children: HHS class of 2021, HHS class of 2024, HHS junior
Education: BE – Mechanical Engineering
MSE – Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Occupation: life / career coach
Previous or current elected appointed office:I was first elected to the school board in 2016. I was re-elected in 2019 and 2022. This November 4, 2025, I am running for my 4th term on the school board.
Campaign website:https://jeanforboe.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/jeanforboe
Why are you seeking re-election for Hillsborough Township Board of Education?I am running for school board because I want to continue to support Hillsborough and Millstone’s children through a strong public school education, and to be a fiscally responsible steward of taxpayer money.
School finances have been continuously discussed in the district. The district recently took advantage of the state's tax Incentive Aid program which increases the tax levy. What did you think of this decision?
I strongly disagreed with the decision to raise the tax levy by $26.6 million without direct voter input. I wrote the following thoughts shortly after the Hillsborough Township Board of Education passed the 2025-2026 final budget, shared here.
“See something, say something” doesn’t just apply to safety concerns—it also applies to bringing attention to proposed legislation that would otherwise fly under the radar.
Last year, The Wall Street Journal warned New Jersey residents with the editorial,
“New Jersey Blows Up Its Property Tax Cap: Gov. Phil Murphy Makes It Easier to Raise Taxes Without Voter Approval.” That piece included a prescient prediction: “Legislators will return soon enough for another override.”
No kidding.
This year, the override is even bigger. A provision buried in the proposed FY 2026 state budget invites local school boards to once again exceed the 2% property tax cap, but this time without last year’s 9.9% ceiling. Any board that taxes below its “local fair share” and spends below its “adequacy budget” is eligible to apply. The deadline to apply was April 14, 2025, and Hillsborough Township Board of Education’s application was approved, with the caveat "Please note that final approval of all applications is subject to the FY2026 Appropriations Act."
Last year, for the 2024–2025 school year budget, the Hillsborough Township Board of Education took advantage of the additional tax levy option, and voted 7–2 to exceed the cap, adding a $5.74 million “one-time” increase on top of a $2.96 million regular increase—roughly an 8% jump in one year.
Now, for the 2025–2026 school year budget, the Hillsborough Township Board of Education has done it again. This time, in a 5–4 vote, the board approved a staggering $26.60 million hike—a 22.6% increase over last year’s levy. The school tax levy will rise from $117.96 million to $144.56 million in just one year. In two years, from the 2023-2024 school year budget to the 2025-2026 school year budget, the school tax levy rose $35.31 million or a 32.3% increase!
This isn’t sustainable. It’s also not transparent. Most taxpayers have no idea that a legislative backdoor is allowing their property taxes to skyrocket—without the usual voter approval required under New Jersey’s 2% cap law.
School board members are doing what they believe is best for students. But, a runaway increasing tax burden with no end in sight, isn’t the answer either. The state cannot solve its school funding problems by handing local boards a blank check and shifting the burden to property owners.
We also need a funding formula that doesn’t pit towns against each other for more state aid. Nearly everyone says the school funding formula needs to be fixed, which I hope will be a priority for whoever is the next governor.
Taxpayers need to stay informed and speak up. Because if we don’t speak up now, what override will we face next year?
Do you have any comments or suggestions on how the district could handle its budget?
My budget philosophy is to use the money we have and make the most of it. The district and the Board of Education must be willing to make tough choices to stay within the bounds of its budget. I’ve proposed before that the district could implement true zero-based budgeting, where a budget is built from scratch, and each expense is justified annually, not simply a carryover % increase from the year before.
The district is preparing to move forward with redistricting of students due to rising student enrollment. What do you think about this?My understanding of the redistricting process is that its goal is to balance enrollment at the elementary schools. It makes sense to adjust the neighborhood boundaries to accommodate each school’s enrollment capacity.
Although this year’s total district enrollment data is not available yet, it’s important to note that in the last few years (October 2020 through October 2024), the total district enrollment is not rising, and in fact is lower than pre-Covid enrollment (October 2019).
What other issues do you feel need to be tackled in the school district?I think it’s important to focus attention on raising the district’s English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics and Science NJSLA scores as an absolute.
Another important focus is student and staff mental and physical well-being. I think the district’s mission should include helping students find purpose and meaning in their life, so the K-12 education journey supports students in discovering what they want, and what they don’t want, in their lives. In this way, K-12 education can partner with students in creating a life they love.
What sets you apart from the challenging candidates?I look forward to learning the views of the other Board of Education candidates, and I appreciate all who are running for this volunteer position. If I am re-elected, I look forward to working with them.
Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself or your campaign?
I am self-employed and have the time, interest and energy to do the work of a school board member. I also volunteer as the Somerset County delegate to the Board of Directors of the New Jersey School Boards Association.
Your individual vote is important, and I ask for your vote. Thank you.
