Hillsborough Wanted $5M In School Emergency Aid, State Gives $0

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Hillsborough is getting nothing from the state after it asked for $5.3 million in emergency aid for its schools.

Hillsborough Township Schools requested the emergency aid after the state cut funding to a number of communities across the state this year.

Out of the 34 districts to receive aid only 13 received some in return.

Hillsborough did no respond to Patch for comment.

Hillsborough's school district has been struggling with finances ever since an $8.09 referendum failed to pass in March. As a result the Hillsborough Board of Education passed a roughly $130 million budget in May that included laying off 50 positions and 37 staffers as a result. (See Related: Hillsborough Schools Passes $130M Budget, To Lay Off 37 Staffers)

The BOE has also been trying to settle contract negotiatons with the Hillsborough Education Association for almost a year now. The negotiations will now be handled by the state. (See Related: Last Ditch Effort To Settle Hillsborough Contract Is Unsuccessful)

Senate President Steve Sweeney said this past week that he will introduce legislation to provide property tax cap relief for districts that are facing cuts. Sweeney was referring to a 2 percent cap set by the Christie administration in 2010 on how much money school districts can raise through property taxes. Read more: New Plan To Fix NJ School Aid: Raise Property Taxes Even More

Gov. Phil Murphy, however, is saying that he is not in favor of the idea and would prefer a millionaire's tax instead.

A number of school districts have struggled to stay within the cap, Sweeney said, and have had to cut programs instead.

"We need to ensure that students do not suffer in districts that are now taking cuts after receiving more than their fair share of state aid for more than a decade," Sweeney said.

Sweeney also said lawmakers will continue to work to consolidate nearly 300 school districts as a way to save money. Read more: Renewed Push On Plan To Eliminate 275 NJ School Districts

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