Plan For Belmar School Aid? Raise Taxes, Lawmaker Says

BELMAR – Lawmakers say they have just the plan to quell the uproar over school aid cuts in New Jersey. And it's one that has a familiar theme – and an option that Belmar area schools may have to take.

Under a new plan from the state's top lawmaker, more than 190 school districts may be able to raise taxes as much as they want to make up for school funding losses. Belmar area districts would be on that list (see below).

Senate President Steve Sweeney said this past weekend 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 – especially since the Murphy administration and state Legislature changed the school funding formula last year that brought severe cuts to suburban districts.

“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 at the Saturday meeting.

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

Below is the list of local school districts: The first number is the percentage decrease or increase in aid; the second is the amount of aid; the third is the loss or gain in aid dollars:

• Asbury Park -6.45% $49,739,416 -$3,426,828
• Belmar -2.69% $938,579 -$25,894
• Point Pleasant Boro -5.63% $5,485,987 -$327,367