For Administration, School Aid Equals Property Tax Relief

New Jersey school districts yesterday But there's a twist: the administration wants most of them to use the money for property tax relief.

There still appeared to be some questions as to what actually will be required, if anything. But the governor's office said late in the day that suburban districts receiving extra aid would be "strongly" encouraged to apply the added aid to property tax relief and not necessarily to restoring cut programs.

“The additional education aid included in this year’s budget is an opportunity to reduce property tax burdens by lowering local property tax levies for this fiscal year or the next and move closer toward real reform in our schools," said Christie spokesman Kevin Roberts in a statement.

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Hopatcong school leaders said they were hopeful the money wouldn't come with strings attached and would wait until they read what Superintendent Dr. Charles Maranzano called "the fine print" before making decisions on how it would be used.

"Whenever the state gives you something, you always have to ask yourself, 'How do they want you to spend it?'" he said.

However, Board of Education members Cliff Lundin and Margaret Bongiorno said the district would have liked to use the money for immediate capital improvements and education.