School District Will Get Increased State Aid While Municipal Aid Remains Flat

The Westwood Regional School District will receive more state aid for 2011-2012 than it did for this year, while aid to each municipality will remain the same.

According to numbers released Wednesday, the Westwood Regional School District will receive $906,178 in total aid for the next school year, an increase of $455,099.

Governor Christie said he is providing an additional $250 million to New Jersey schools through his state budget for the upcoming year.

“Last year, our state faced severe fiscal challenges, and we had to make some very difficult choices. Reductions to education funding were among the most agonizing of those choices,” Christie said in a statement. “Because of the foundation we set in last year's budget, and our responsible management of the state's finances, New Jersey is on firmer footing and we are able to put more funding into classrooms throughout New Jersey.”

Municipalities throughout the state didn't fare as well and it was no different locally. According to the numbers, Westwood and Washington Township will receive the same amount of state aid as last year. Westwood will get $1,019,536 while the township will get $713,525.

The township council has a budget meeting scheduled for Friday to discuss its spendindg plan. The Westwood council has a special budget meeting scheduled for March 2.

The Westwood Regional school budget is scheduled to be introduced to the public during the school board meeting March 3. A public hearing is expected March 24 before school board elections take place April 27.