Funding--Testimony--Assembly Budget Committee--Schiff--3-20-19
One District's State Aid Impact: Hillsborough's Story Hillsborough is set to lose $5.3 million over the next six years.
State Aid for Hillsborough: A Historical Perspective
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Enrollment
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Local Fair Share
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Over/(Under) Aided
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2012-2013
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7,083
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69,278,386
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(13,038,055)
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2018-2019
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7,096
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94,737,476
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5,639,111
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% Increase/( decrease)
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0.00%
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36.74%
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During a period of six years, enrollments remained constant. In FY13 Hillsborough schools were underfunded by over $13 million. In six years, Hillborough is now over funded by $5.6 million. During this period of time while enrollments remained virtually unchanged, the Local Fair Share increased by 36%.
Although we taxed at cap and utilized the healthcare waiver over the past several years, SFRA finds us to be over-aided.
Tools for the "Toolbox"
- Remove the 2% cap for any district losing aid
- If #1 is not doable, then allow for additional waivers for:
- Special Education
- Cost increases beyond 2%
- Cost not covered adequately by the state
- Eligible extraordinary aid not covered by the state
- Special education students above 14.92%,both formulaic and categorical adjustments
- Healthcare costs above 2% for private carriers, not just SEHBP
- Other insurance costs above 2%
- Greater flexibility with reserve accounts for districts losing aid
- The wealth calculation
- Multipliers are heavily weighted toward district income, rather than balanced between income and property. Hillsborough's income increased from 2012-13 to 2018-19 by 33%. Our property value increased by 7.47%, yet our local fair share increased by 36.74%. The law clearly states that the wealth calculation will be weighted equally between property and income, but it clearly is not.
- There is no verification of the income data
- Hold implementation of S-2 until a comprehensive impact study is released and adjustments are made to address unintended consequences.
Jorden Schiff, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools
Hillsborough Township 379 South Branch Road Hillsborough, NJ 08844
(908) 431-6600 x2002
jschiff@htps.us
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