Murphy's Plan Would Send More State Aid To Hillsdale Schools

HILLSDALE, NJ — Gov. Phil Murphy's proposed state aid package may affect taxes in school districts throughout New Jersey, including Hillsdale.

Murphy's administration released the proposed state aid numbers on Thursday for every school district in the 2020-21 school year. The New Jersey Legislature still needs to approve the governor's plan, which would boost overall state aid by 3.8 percent over the 2019-20 school year.

See the full list and read more: These NJ Districts May Face Tax Hikes (School Aid Figures)

Here's how schools in Hillsdale would be affected under Murphy's proposal:

• Hillsdale Local School District Total State Aid - $1,047,108
• $65,110 increase from last year (6.63 percent)
• Pascack Valley Regional School District Total State Aid - $244,301
• $244,301 increase from last year (15.61 percent)

School taxes make up more than half of the average property tax bill in New Jersey, according to Murphy.

State aid weighs heavily in many districts' decisions to raise the local levy, which along with municipal and county levies, makes up a local homeowner's property taxes. Many experts say that aid cuts – or even flat spending – can raise what are already the highest property taxes in the nation.

Murphy, whose administration has taken heat for state aid cuts to hundreds of schools, also proposed a one-time, $50 million burst in aid that he says would stabilize school finances without cutting vital student programs.

Read more: 6 Points In NJ Gov. Phil Murphy's Budget Address That Affect You

Lawmakers have sought other methods — such as raising property taxes and consolidating school districts — to bring in more revenue to New Jersey and help fund school districts that experienced sharp cuts in state funding.

Murphy, however, has rejected those efforts, calling property taxes "regressive."

Read more: NJ Gov. Murphy Vetoes Raising Property Taxes To Fix School Aid

This article contains reporting by Tom Davis, Patch staff