Lacey Faces Massive Cuts Again In 2025 School State Aid

LACEY, NJ — Dozens of school districts across New Jersey - including Lacey - are going to see cuts in their state aid in the upcoming school year, according to recently released figures.

During his annual budget address to legislators Tuesday, Gov. Phil Murphy noted the proposed plan includes the single largest investment in public education in state history. The budget would fully fund the state’s school funding formula for the first time, raising public school funding by $908 million to $11.7 billion. Read more: New NJ School Aid Amounts Released: Who's Getting More?

The Lacey Township School District has been anticipating a $1.2 million cut in aid. Read more: 'Unsurvivable': Lacey Schools Prepare To Lose More State Aid

But the district will see a much worse loss than anticipated. According to the numbers, Lacey will receive $3.2 million less than the previous school year - a decrease of 30.62 percent in funding. Their total state aid is $7,264,988 .

Since the 2020-21 school year, the state has determined its annual distribution of education aid through S2 — a controversial funding formula passed in 2018, Murphy's first year in office.

The governor has defended S2, saying the funding formula had to change to address inequities within the state. But critics have pointed to the losses in state aid among many school districts, which has resulted in cuts while other districts get increases.

Murphy also earmarked funding for expanded preschool access, free school meals and student-teacher stipend and recruitment efforts.

"I am honored to report that the single largest investment in our budget is dedicated to New Jersey’s best-in-the-nation public education system,” Murphy said Tuesday. Read more: 5 Big Takeaways From Murphy's Budget Address

This article contains reporting by Nicole Rosenthal.