P.O. Box 909 ● Trenton, NJ 08605-0909 ● Phone: 609.695.7600 ● Fax: 609.695.0413 ● Web: www.njsba.org/PI

NJSBA on State Budget: School Aid Increase Will Help Property Taxpayers

TRENTON, February 26, 2008 — The executive director of the New Jersey School Boards Association today thanked Governor Corzine for recommending an increase of $532 million in state aid to public education for 2008-2009. The increase is the result of the new school funding formula (the School Funding Reform Act of 2008) enacted in January.

“Against the backdrop of state budget cutbacks, the increase in education funding will relieve or stabilize property tax burdens in a significant number of communities,” said Marie S. Bilik, NJSBA executive director. “The recommended appropriation will also provide a needed infusion of aid to many programs that have been flat funded for six years. And it will help many school districts meet the challenges of educating economically disadvantaged children.

“NJSBA continues to have concerns about the distribution of aid under the new school funding formula and the impact on some of our member districts,” Bilik explained. “However, we decided not to oppose the funding bill as it went through the Legislature in December and early January. The need for property tax relief in many moderate and middle-income districts was simply too great.

“In addition, the ability to plan local school budgets with a degree of certainty will be a welcomed and sound fiscal practice, one that was absent during the last six years when no funding formula was in place. 

“We will continue to analyze the impact of the new funding law as it is implemented and, in the future, will advocate change where necessary,” the NJSBA executive director continued. “But in terms of the 2008-2009 state budget, NJSBA will strongly advocate inclusion of the governor’s recommendation for state school aid as the Legislature develops the final appropriations act.”