Governor Christie Touts His Fairness Formula In Fair Lawn Tuesday

FAIR LAWN, N.J. — Governor Chris Christie discussed with residents Tuesday his controversial Fairness Formula, which would give all public school districts the same in state aid and potentially save Bergen County households thousands of dollars in annual property taxes.

The plan calls for all public school districts to receive the same amount — $6,599 — per pupil in tax dollars. The plan is designed to curb the state's ever-increasing property taxes and reverse failing urban school districts, known as Abbott districts.

The average Fair Lawn household would save more than $2,200 if the plan is enacted.

"Under the current funding formula you only get about $2,900 per pupil from the state, $2,900 per pupil. You’re paying $20,000 per kid to educate them and the state is only picking up less than $3,000 of that cost. That means all of the rest of that money must come from you, from property taxes," Christie said.

Christie compared Fair Lawn's and Asbury Park's graduation rates and how much the district's spend per pupil.

"You have almost a 95 percent graduation rate in Fair Lawn, the graduation rate this past year that we have states for, 2014, for Asbury Park was 66 percent. Only two-thirds of the kids that go to Asbury Park High School graduate," Christie said. "How much are they spending per pupil, per year? You’re spending $20,031, they’re spending $33,600 per pupil, per year, compared to your $20,000, and they’re getting a graduation rate that is nearly 30 percent less than the graduation rate you’re getting."

According to the governor, 62 percent of Fair Lawn residents' taxes go toward the school system, compared to 25 percent of Asbury Park's taxpayers.

According to the formula, 75 percent of all districts would receive more state aid than they currently do.

The current school funding formula allows Abbott districts to spend as much as $33,700 in tax dollars per pupil, while, according to the governor's office, successful school districts spend less than half of that per student.

The statewide graduation rate is 90 percent with 27 of the 31 Abbott districts falling below that average.

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

The plan has been met with opposition, especially from the New Jersey Education Association, who called the proposal “despicable” and an idea that would set the state’s progress in education back decades.

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