Schools
NJ School Aid 2020: See Where Mendham, Chester Stands
Losing school districts – more than 190 of them – may be forced to raise taxes to make up for losses in 2020-21 school funding.
MENDHAM, NJ - The days of getting little help from New Jersey – and possibly raising taxes to make up for the budget shortfall – will continue for more than 190 school districts this year. The good news is that is not the case for most of the school districts in Mendham and Chester, where the state aid actually increases under the plan.
The state aid numbers were released Thursday by Gov. Phil Murphy's administration for every school district in New Jersey.
In Mendham Township the district will see a 16.70 percent increase which will account for a $105,466 bump in the $736,829 state aid figure. Mendham Borough will see a 13.77 percent increase which will account for a $46,142 bump in the $381,297 state aid figure.
Find out what's happening in Mendham-Chesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Over in Chester Township there will be a modest bump 7.27 percent, which accounts for a $91,074 bump in the $1,343,240 allotment.
The bad news is the West Morris Regional School District will see a 2.11 percent drop in state aid leading to a $90,253 drop in the $4,188,895 aid number.
Find out what's happening in Mendham-Chesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Many other towns across New Jersey weren't so lucky and saw a reduction in aid from Trenton: 193 school districts saw a decrease under Murphy's school funding plan, and they may need to raise property taxes to make up the differences.
State aid for public school districts weighs heavily in many district's decisions on raising local property taxes, which in New Jersey are already the highest in the nation.
Since he first took office, Murphy's administration has taken heat for state aid cuts to hundreds of public school districts, most notably in Ocean and Monmouth county towns such as Toms River and Middletown.
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