Mayor Orders Audit Of Parsippany School Board

PARSIPPANY, NJ — Parsippany Mayor James Barberio announced he was authorizing a private audit of the township's school board to make sure members are making "sound financial decisions" for the district while citing what he said is "irrational behavior " by some board members.

This is a longstanding feud between the board and the Mayor.

Barberio has been at odds with the board and Councilmember Justin Musella over several development projects that were approved for municipal tax breaks (also known as PILOTs), late last year.

At last week's council meeting, Barberio criticized Board of Education President Andy Choffo and others for supporting Musella — who is running against him in the 2025 Republican primary for mayor — at a campaign kickoff event in June.

Choffo did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment.

In a letter from Barberio that was posted on Parsippany Focus, the mayor expressed concerns about the current board's financial decisions but was still willing to work with them.

"I am willing to sit and negotiate a fair and amicable shared services agreement with the Board of Education upon being confident that they are good stewards of our taxpayer dollars," said Barberio.

He also said that he hopes the board will focus on working together to benefit the community.

"It is my sincere hope that Board of Education President Andy Choffo and the rest of the Board will put aside focusing on politics, the blame game, and the misinformation campaign that has hurt our community, and I ask them again to join me in focusing on working together in the interest of our residents and students," said Barberio.