School Board 'Does Not Intend To Comply' With Parsippany Mayor's Audit Order

PARSIPPANY, NJ — In the latest round of squabbling between Parsippany Mayor James Barberio and the Parsippany Board of Education, Board President Andrew Choffo said that they will not be submitting to an audit request made by Barberio.

"The township has no oversight or authority over the Board," Choffo told Patch.

Barberio said at the last council meeting 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 members.

Barberio also criticized the Board president and others for supporting Councilman Justin Musella, who is running against him in the 2025 Republican primary for mayor.

Choffo said the Board has been trying to schedule another meeting to work with the township and hopes they will come back to the table. He also noted a disparity between Barberio's current position on board activities and his previous opinions.

"Board of Education members acting as private citizens have a First Amendment right to free speech, which includes the participation in political activities,” said Choffo. “Past and current Board members have supported Mayor Barberio’s campaigns, and he did not object to this activity and in fact encouraged it."

Choffo noted where he believes the change of heart stems from.

"It appears that only when Board members participate in political activities that do not support him that he objects and labels those members as acting irrationally," said Choffo.

PILOT Concerns

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.

PILOT agreements, also known as municipal tax abatements, are deals that enable a developer to switch their standard tax payments for a property to a fixed, yearly payment to the municipality.

Alison Cogan, former school board president, spoke out last November, expressing frustration that the school district was not being included in any of the conversations for the PILOTs.

Choffo also shared his concerns, noting that the potential result of an increase in student enrollment would be the school district increasing their taxes for all township residents to help balance out the costs.

Choffo used the neighboring town of Montville as an example, noting that they have also been experiencing the effects of overdevelopment and PILOT programs, resulting in the local school district holding a referendum election.

"To offset the loss of developer-paid tax revenue under the PILOT, the Montville school district is proposing a $70 million referendum. This is to expand and improve schools due to the influx of children and the decrease in tax dollars by the developer. If the referendum passes, who will pay for the school improvements? Residential taxpayers, not the developer," Choffo said at the time.

That referendum was defeated by Montville taxpayers, as were similar plans in Madison and Mt. Olive in special elections held in December of last year.