State Aid to South Brunswick Schools Increased by $1

In his budget address on Tuesday, Gov. Chris Christie said 378 school districts in New Jersey would get a funding increase, and no K-12 school's aid would decrease for the 2014 fiscal year.

This message held true for South Brunswick as a district where aid was increased. Barely.

State aid to to the South Brunswick School District went up by $1, according to figures released by the governor's office on Thursday. Middlesex County schools in total saw a boost in aid of about $7.5 million for next year.

South Brunswick will see a total of $23,220,341 in aid for 2013-14. District officials could not immediately be reached for comment after the figures were released Thursday afternoon.

South Brunswick received a more substantial increase last year of about $1.7 million (8.3 percent). In 2011-12, aid to district schools went up by about $1.26 million, but that total was still short of the $6.3 million in aid that was cut in 2010-11. 

Gov. Christie's proposed state budget this year includes an increase of $97.3 million in state aid to schools over fiscal year 2013 for a total of about $9 billion. 

“Throughout my time in office I have continuously argued that in order to grow New Jersey’s economy we must invest in education, and my proposed budget is a reflection of my commitment to our educational system and communities in Middlesex County and across the state," Gov. Christie said. "The $7,466,917 increase to Middlesex County districts is part of a bold budget that continues to prioritize education and funds schools at the highest levels in New Jersey’s history.

"However, even as we continue to fund education at the highest levels in state history, we must remain willing to reflect on how we are spending our money and work towards solutions that make every dollar we invest count.”

In the county, Cranbury Township and Middlesex County Vocational schools also had a $1 increase, while aid stayed flat for seven other districts. Perth Amboy and New Brunswick had the largest increases of about $2.4 million and $2.3 million, respectively.

South Brunswick had the sixth highest aid total out of 24 districts in Middlesex County. Perth Amboy had the largest allocation at about $159.8 million.

Still of issue for South Brunswick is the final total of aid to the district from the federal government. 

South Brunswick may be facing a larger cut in federal aid from sequestration spending cuts set to go into place today (March 1), unless Congress halts the measure.

"My guess is that we have to be prepared for about $160,000 in cuts," said South Brunswick Superintendent Gary McCartney on Monday. "Our rule of thumb is that it will probably be about $80,000 (cut) for every $1 million of federal funds, and we're sitting at around $2 million (in federal funds)."