How Would Christie's School Funding Plan Impact Brick Taxpayers?

With reporting by Jason Koestenblatt (Patch Staff)

Brick, NJ -- Governor Chris Christie made waves Tuesday when he unveiled a proposed funding formula change for New Jersey’s schools that would equalize spending for each student in the state.

In doing so, Christie said, it would mean potentially lower property tax bills for residents in high-cost areas, but it also would be an enormous funding loss in poorer, urban areas known as Abbott districts.

Christie’s plan would equalize spending to a level of $6,599 per student in the state. That figure came from the $9.1 billion spent by the state this year divided by each enrolled student in grades kindergarten through 12.

In a statement released by the governor’s office Tuesday, blame was laid on the state’s “Abbott” districts – 31 school districts in court-classified “poorer urban” areas – for taking up so much of the state’s taxpayer money and funding aid.

See related: Christie Unveils New School Funding Plan; NJEA Calls It ‘Despicable’

The New Jersey Education Association assailed Christie’s plan, calling it despicable and claiming it would set the state’s education progress back decades.

But what would the governor’s plan, if implemented, mean to each individual school district in the state?

For the Brick Township School District, it would mean being adequately funded for the first time in years.

"I am sure we are in favor of any additional funding that Brick Township Schools receives from the state," said Thomas Gialanella, interim superintendent of the Brick schools. "By the NJ Department of Education's own figures we are underfunded by many millions of dollars. These additional funds would be a huge benefit to the school district and taxpayers."

According to nj.com, which compiled a list of data showing the current per-pupil aid by district versus what that figure would be under Christie’s plan, Brick Township schools would receive a 61 percent increase in aid.

Brick is receiving $4,045.52 in state aid per pupil for the 2015-16 school year. If Christie's plan goes through, the increase for the Brick schools would be $2,454.48 per student -- amounting to roughly $21.8 million for the district's roughly 8,900 students.

For the 2016-17 school year, the district cut 14 teaching positions to keep a 3.51 percent tax increase from being larger while trying to address critical facilities issues.

"The board would make the decision if this takes place on how it would be spent," Gialanella said. "Without speaking for the board I would think the taxpayers of Brick would find this very helpful."

But Gialanella acknowledged there is a long way to go before Christie's proposal becomes reality.

"This proposal has a long and difficult path to be accepted," he said. "I am sure, if passed by the Legislature, a court battle will take place and it may take many months, if not years, to complete."

That is because the proposal would cut so much from the Abbott districts -- which receive millions extra in aid each year after lengthy court battles to increase funding to those students. Under the plan, Camden would see a $23,634.77 loss per student, and Asbury Park would see its funding decrease $22,384.78 for each pupil.

See nj.com's full list of state districts here.

(Image via Shutterstock)