School Board to Discuss Uses for $346,687 in New Aid

Ocean City's $41 million school budget for 2011-12 is signed, sealed and starting to be spent -- but the state said last week it is sending more money to the district.

The Board of Education will discuss how to use it at a public meeting 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 20, in the Community Room at Ocean City High School.

Gov. Chris Christie's administration announced on July 13 a plan to increase state aid to New Jersey schools by $600 million. The state Department of Education said the Ocean City School District would receive $507,743 of that new state aid.

Ocean City Schools Business Administrator Tom Grossi said Monday that the figure announced by the state includes $161,056 designated for Ocean City's . He said the school board will discuss Wednesday what to do with the remainder: $346,687.  

One option -- tax relief -- apparently will not be on the table. Boards of education throughout the state face a 4 p.m. deadline today (July 19) to reduce property tax levies. After today, tax rates will be certified by county boards of taxation and tax bills will be issued.

Ocean City's fiscal 2011-12 budget includes a $37,942,194 operating budget and raises $21,640,721 from Ocean City taxpayers. The tax levy represents a 1.65 percent increase from the last fiscal year—well under the new 2 percent cap mandated by Gov. Chris Christie. See more .