SUSSEX COUNTY, NJ – Gov. Phil Murphy has released revised state aid figures, saying they will overall remain steady from fiscal year 2020 despite the “historic financial challenges New Jersey is facing due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”
But a number of districts – nearly 400 of them – will get less money than they expected when Murphy first offered his school funding plan in February.
Indeed, more than 190 school districts will see cuts from last year’s funding, and they may need tax increases to make up the differences
Hopatcong received $9,636,888 in state funds in 2019-2020. Initially the district was slated to receive $7,930,527 this year which was not changed by the pandemic response. That represents a -1,706,361 or -17.7 percent decrease.
Sparta received 5,795,317 in state funds in 2019-2020. Initially the district was slated to receive 5,629,268 this year which was not changed by the pandemic response. That represents a -166,049 or -2.9 percent decrease.
In his revised budget proposal, Murphy announced that funding for school districts will keep the state on track to fully fund public schools. Additionally, the revised budget proposal includes almost $68 million in new funds over FY2020 for preschools in New Jersey.
Murphy also announced $100 million in Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) funding to ensure schools can reopen safely.
This post contains reporting by Tom Davis.
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