Proposed Laws Could Eliminate 19 Camden County School Districts

Lawmakers say they have a plan to fix New Jersey's fiscal crisis, restore the stability of the pension system and save tens of billions of dollars for taxpayers, and it includes closing 19 Camden County public school districts.

Nearly 300 school districts across the state could be wiped out as part of a 27-bill package recently proposed by state lawmakers.

The package, known as the Path to Progress bills, was unveiled by Senate President Steve Sweeney, Sens. Paul Sarlo and Steve Oroho and Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald.

Sweeney said the bills are intended to provide stability to a state with the highest property taxes, the second-largest unfunded pension liability, the second-worst credit rating and the fifth-highest overall tax burden in the nation.

The bill package comes just after lawmakers killed a bill to legalize marijuana in New Jersey. Read more: NJ Marijuana Legalization Bill Is Dead: Voters Will Decide

"These reforms can have an historic impact that will produce an unprecedented amount of sustained savings," Sweeney said. "They will help make New Jersey more affordable, especially for hard working middle class families."

Here's a list of the Camden County school districts that could be eliminated:

• BELLMAWR BORO, CAMDEN K-8
• BERLIN BORO, CAMDEN K-8
• BERLIN TWP, CAMDEN K-8
• BROOKLAWN BORO, CAMDEN K-8
• CLEMENTON BORO, CAMDEN K-8
• GIBBSBORO BORO, CAMDEN K-8
• GLOUCESTER TWP, CAMDEN K-8
• LAUREL SPRINGS BORO, CAMDEN K-6
• LAWNSIDE BORO, CAMDEN K-8
• MAGNOLIA BORO, CAMDEN K-8
• MERCHANTVILLE BORO, CAMDEN K-8
• MOUNT EPHRAIM, CAMDEN K-8
• OAKLYN BORO, CAMDEN K-9
• RUNNEMEDE BORO, CAMDEN K-8
• SOMERDALE BORO, CAMDEN K-8
• STRATFORD BORO, CAMDEN K-8
• VOORHEES TWP, CAMDEN K-8
• WATERFORD TWP, CAMDEN K-6
• WOODLYNNE BORO, CAMDEN K-8

Read more here: 27 Proposed Laws Pushed: Nearly 300 NJ School Districts May Go

See related:

Consolidation Still Possible For 19 Camden County School Districts

19 Camden County School Districts May Disappear Under State Plan