Lacey, Little Egg Harbor Aid Cuts Prompt 9th District School Funding Reform Bill

LACEY, NJ — Sen. Carmen Amato Jr., Assemblyman Brian Rumpf and Assemblyman Gregory Myhre said Tuesday they plan to introduce legislation aimed at fully restoring funding under New Jersey’s school funding formula.

In a March 31 announcement, the 9th District delegation said the measure is intended to help districts that have faced deep aid cuts and, more recently, limits on how much their state aid can increase.

The lawmakers pointed to Lacey and Little Egg Harbor schools as examples of why reform is needed. Their announcement also named Stafford and Waretown among districts they say have been hurt by the current formula. According to the release, those districts have faced layoffs, busing cuts, higher taxes and the sale of school buildings.

The delegation issued a joint statement describing the current system in stark terms. “The state’s blatantly rigged school funding formula continues to take a heavy toll on students, educators, and taxpayers through discriminatory aid cuts and chronic underfunding that can only be described as draconian.”

The statement said districts on the losing end of the formula were set to receive modest aid increases after years of reductions, but that those increases were capped at 6 percent. The lawmakers said that cap has kept some districts underfunded.

“However, Trenton once again put its thumb on the scale by capping those increases at six percent, ensuring that targeted districts remain underfunded so others can receive more,” the delegation said.

The delegation said its bill would restore school aid to districts it believes were repeatedly shortchanged during Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration. The lawmakers also criticized Gov. Sherrill’s first proposed state budget, saying it does not change the current approach to school funding.

“Our delegation will continue fighting for a fair and equitable funding formula and looks forward to working with educators, parents, students, and taxpayers who expect and deserve equal treatment from their state government,” the statement said.