Gov. Murphy’s Plan: More State Aid To Schools In The Caldwells

CALDWELLS, NJ — Gov. Phil Murphy’s proposed state aid package may affect taxes in school districts throughout New Jersey, including the Caldwells and West Essex.

Murphy's administration released the proposed state aid numbers on Thursday for every school district in the 2020-21 school year. The New Jersey Legislature still needs to approve the governor’s plan, which would boost overall state aid by 3.8 percent over the 2019-20 school year.

See the full list and read more: These NJ Districts May Face Tax Hikes (School Aid Figures)

Here’s how schools in the Caldwell-West Caldwell district would be affected under Murphy’s proposal:

• Total State Aid - $2,149,345
• $322,941 increase from last year (17.68 percent)

Here’s how schools in the North Caldwell district would be affected under Murphy’s proposal:

• Total State Aid - $543,656
• $89,376 increase from last year (19.67 percent)

Here’s how schools in the West Essex Regional district would be affected under Murphy’s proposal:

• Total State Aid - $1,795,072
• $241,801 increase from last year (15.57 percent)

School taxes make up more than half of the average property tax bill in New Jersey, according to Murphy.

State aid weighs heavily in many districts’ decisions to raise the local levy, which along with municipal and county levies, makes up a local homeowner’s property taxes. Many experts say that aid cuts – or even flat spending – can raise what are already the highest property taxes in the nation.

• See related article: NJ Homeowners Pay Highest Property Taxes In US, Study Says

Murphy, whose administration has taken heat for state aid cuts to hundreds of schools, also proposed a one-time, $50 million burst in aid that he says would stabilize school finances without cutting vital student programs.

Read more: 6 Points In NJ Gov. Phil Murphy's Budget Address That Affect You

Lawmakers have sought other methods — such as raising property taxes and consolidating school districts — to bring in more revenue to New Jersey and help fund school districts that experienced sharp cuts in state funding.

Murphy, however, has rejected those efforts, calling property taxes "regressive." Read more: NJ Gov. Murphy Vetoes Raising Property Taxes To Fix School Aid

This article contains reporting by Tom Davis, Patch staff

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