Soloway Talks School Aid Cuts With NJ State Governor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: May 12, 2021

Contact: Susan J. Soloway, Director

Susan.soloway@co.hunterdon.nj.us

Soloway Asks Governor To Reconsider School Aid Cuts To Hunterdon County

Hunterdon County Board of Commissioners Director Susan J. Soloway took the opportunity of Governor Phil Murphy’s visit to the County’s Vaccination clinic to ask the Governor to reconsider the state’s school aid budget cuts to twenty Hunterdon County school districts.

Soloway said, “We recognized the Governor’s visit was to highlight vaccinations and how effective the county’s clinic is, but I did not want the chance to go by and not mention the devastating effect of the school aid cuts for the County’s school children and property taxpayers.”

Soloway stated, “I presented a letter, on the behalf of the Board of Commissioners, seeking reconsideration of the cuts. The Governor was polite in his response.”

Soloway’s letter reads in part; ‘The Board recognizes that the school aid reductions are a result of the formula in P.L. 2018, chapter 67. The Board has been advised that the state can, however, make adjustments prior to the final budget, notwithstanding the requirements of the statute.

The Board further recognizes if a decision is made to hold Hunterdon County schools harmless, that decision would have to be extended to all 193 districts at a cost of $193 million.

It would appear that given the forthcoming new federal resources, the significant anticipated increase in state revenues, and projected surplus, the state has more than enough financial resources to meet the additional costs in the FY 21-22 budget.’

Soloway closed by writing, ‘It is the sincere hope of the Hunterdon County Board of Commissioners, our school boards, our property taxpayers, our school children, and our educational staffs that you consider this request.’