Gov. Murphy Touts Proposed $200M Aid Increase To NJ Schools

FORT LEE, NJ — Investing in local school districts means investing in the future and creating a world-class workforce, Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday morning.

Murphy, along with federal, state, and local officials, spoke about the $206 million increase in school state aid Murphy's administration has proposed for the 2019-20 school year as part of New Jersey's Fiscal Year 2020 budget.

In Fort Lee, 96 percent of students graduate from high school.

"When we invest in Fort Lee schools, we’re investing in a world-class workforce," Murphy said at a news conference at Fort Lee High School. "We're making up for lost time."

That lost time is the severe cut in aid districts saw under then-Gov. Chris Christie. Fort Lee lost 90 percent of its aid between the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years. These cuts in aid forced many district to raise local taxes to make up for the loss in aid.

"Our administration is trying to take that weight away," Murphy said.

Overall, state aid would increase, on average, 2.43 percent this year over the 2018-19 school year under a plan that the state Legislature must approve. (See related: These 190-Plus Districts May Face Tax Hike: NJ School Aid Figures)

State aid weighs heavily in many district's decisions on raising local property taxes. Many often say that aid cuts or flat spending from year to year gives them cause to raise what are already high property taxes.

Nearly 200 school districts could get less aid money this year than last year, and they may need to raise municipal taxes as a result.

Some districts saw double-digit increases, including Lakewood (63.66 percent), Atlantic City (39.23 percent) and Woodbridge (21.78 percent). The biggest losers happened to be in areas where Murphy may not be so popular, such as Hunterdon and Monmouth counties.

Some districts, like Wayne, see the increase as an opportunity to fund programs like full-day kindergarten. (See related: $4.2M Full-Day Kindergarten Plan Announced For Wayne Schools)

Preschool funding is a priority under Murphy's proposed budget. He proposes a $68 million increase to create new preschool programs and support already existing ones. This mean 4,000 more children will be enrolled in preschool programs in New Jersey.

A number of districts protested the changes, and many of them even appeared at the State House last week, just as Murphy was giving his budget address, to voice their displeasure. (Read more: Toms River Sends 27 Buses To Support Our Students Rally)

"Our educational system is the cornerstone of our democracy," said Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., a Democrat representing New Jersey's 11th Congressional District. "Where we go as a country, as a civilization, depends first on the quality of our education."

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com