Bernards Twp. Schools Set To Receive More State Aid Next Year

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Following a particularly difficult year for New Jersey school districts during the coronavirus pandemic, scores of school districts across the state can expect decreased funding and, subsequently, a possible tax hike this year. But the state expects to increase aid for the Bernards Township School District

Gov. Phil Murphy's administration released the proposed $18.1 billion in pre-K through 12 school aid funding on Thursday for the 2021-22 school year. Nearly 200 school districts would have a decrease under his school funding plan, and they may need tax increases to mend the gap.

Under the proposed budget, Bernards Township schools would get 15.66 percent more in state aid for the 2021-22 school year, bringing its state funding to $5,629,858.

State aid is an influential factor in a district's decisions on raising local property taxes. Many say that aid cuts or flat spending each year gives them cause to raise what are already the highest property taxes in the country.

On the whole, state aid would increase 6.6 percent over the 2020-21 school year under a plan that requires approval from the state Legislature. That number would be larger than the 3.8 percent increase Murphy proposed last year.

The state aid was part of Murphy's 2021-22 budget proposal, which was released Tuesday.

The proposal calls for $578 million in additional K-12 school aid and nearly $50 million in additional preschool funding. School districts will be able to use the state funding in conjunction with federal aid to address COVID-19-related learning loss, stand up mental health programs, train educators, and remediate buildings, among other uses, according to the administration.

"This investment is about ensuring that [students] are not left out or left alone," Murphy said in his remarks, citing the COVID-19 pandemic's prolonged effect on student learning. "We know that the learning loss is real and there are students … who have fallen behind in their studies during this time of remote and hybrid learning."

The 2021-22 budget proposal plans to continue the seven-year phase-in to fully fund New Jersey's school funding formula. By adding $578 million in K-12 formula aid, the Murphy administration proposes to make the full scheduled phase-in for the upcoming school year and make up for the pause in the phase-in from last year's budget.