Lacey School Aid Remains Same In Revised State Budget

LACEY, NJ — Although state officials adjusted school aid figures from February's initial announcement, assistance for Lacey will remain the same as the budget from earlier this year. However, that means Lacey schools still must deal with a cut in state funds compared to the 2019-20 year.

Last week Murphy released new state aid figures, saying they will remain steady from fiscal year 2020 despite the "historic financial challenges New Jersey is facing due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic."

State officials announced in February that Lacey would receive $19,037,074 in funding for the upcoming school year — a 6.4 percent decrease from last year's figure of $20,347,244. The new budget did not affect the amount of state aid Lacey will receive.

But S2 — the state law that set a schedule of cuts to adjustment aid that a number of districts have been receiving since the School Funding Reform Act of 2008 — has reduced Lacey's funding from the state since it was enacted in 2018.

Between the 2018-19 and 2019-20 school years, the state reduced Lacey's annual aid by $623,156.

Read more: These 190-Plus Districts May Face Tax Hike: NJ School Aid Figures

Murphy announced that funding for school districts will keep the state on track to fully fund public schools. The revised budget proposal also includes almost $68 million in new funds over FY2020 for preschools in the state.

"Supporting our public schools has been one of the bedrock priorities of my administration, and the COVID-19 pandemic has not changed our commitment to our students, educators, and staff," Murphy said.

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Murphy also announced $100 million in Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) funding meant to ensure schools can reopen safely.

He said the pandemic has "created an unprecedented challenge for our schools."

"But I am proud that we can continue to support our districts, ensure the health and safety of students and school staff, and provide a high-quality education for all children," Murphy said. "Together, we will weather these challenging times and build a state that is stronger, fairer and more resilient."

Lacey schools will begin the year remotely next Tuesday before moving to a hybrid model — for families that selected it — Sept. 21. In-person schooling will begin Sept. 14 for students who require specialized programming and services.

Read more: NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

With reporting from Tom Davis/Patch

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