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Legislators on both sides of the aisle are expressing concern that the rest of New Jersey's school districts are left in the cold. What occurs is in the legislature's hands today and it will impact you, our public school students, and local property taxpayers. There are reasonable funding options for additional school funding for FY'12 that could help reach all students:
1. $100M - for all districts [except Abbotts/already taken care of by Sup Ct decision] - Jump up the Governor’s proposal for FY’12 State Budget from ‘step 1 of the giveback’ of the state aid cut last year to a ‘step 2 giveback’. Since Abbotts are already to be fully funded, the giveback would only cost approx $100M . The’ step 1giveback’ was based on 20% return of the state aid cut from last year, or 1% of the 5% budget reductions taken from all districts.
2. $28.7M - Extraordinary Aid to Special Education is currently prorated to 85% in the Governor’s proposed budget. To reach 100% full funding for this aid category costs approximately $28.7M more. This is fair since Extraordinary Aid for Special Education goes to disabled children directly, no matter where they reside.
3. $23.9M - Debt Service aid to districts has been reduced by 15% in the Governor’s proposed budget –restore that funding to 100%. These funds were incorporated and published (legal requirement) when voted on by local communities as they approved school facilities bonds.
