At his budget address, Governor Murphy made a bold promise:
“For the first time in history, we can fully fund the school aid formula. The state financing will give educators the support they need to provide a quality education for students throughout the state. It will help communities strengthen their schools and provide direct assistance to avoid property tax increases.”
But here’s the reality in LD13 – school districts are being forced to consider selling school property, cutting staff and programs, or raising already sky-high property taxes. And local municipal budgets are being relied on more than ever to fund shortfalls in the local school board budgets.
Why? Because the state isn’t providing enough funding for these districts to make ends meet.
Here’s the truth: Trenton Democrats broke the funding formula—and now refuse to fix it.
And how does the Department of Education respond? By pressuring local school boards to adopt budgets that raise local property taxes or make painful cuts to instruction. That’s not just unfair—it’s outrageous.
Let’s be clear: this crisis is the direct result of one-party Democratic rule in Trenton. Republicans in the legislature have offered real solutions. We’ve introduced bills to:
– Lift arbitrary caps on school funding.
– Reform costly mandates that drive up school budgets.
– Fund education fairly for all New Jersey students.
But Trenton Democrats won’t even allow these bills to be heard in committee. Several democrats have privately told me that they agree we need to have a summit of sorts to solve this crisis. But Democrat leadership won’t allow those conversations to happen.
Meanwhile, volunteer Board of Education members are being told by the State DOE and local administrators the only way to save programs and jobs is to raise your property taxes. That’s not leadership—it’s coercion.
Let’s not forget: federal COVID funding masked the cracks in the system for years. But now that it’s gone, the damage is clear. And instead of addressing it, the Murphy administration capped school aid increases, pushing the full burden onto you—the taxpayer.
And here’s the real kicker: property taxes are rising while the cost of living continues to skyrocket thanks to the failed policies of Trenton:
– Soaring utility bills
– Higher healthcare premiums
– Rising water and sewer costs
– A crushing property tax burden
Our communities are stretched thin. And now, the DOE has the audacity to say “raise taxes” while remaining silent on real solutions. Gerry, Declan and I have made it crystal clear that is unacceptable. We have asked the Commissioner to work with us to make for a softer landing for our communities bring hit hard by these funding inequities which would require:
– A full overhaul of the school funding formula.
– Relief from unfunded mandates like mandatory transportation.
– Fair treatment for districts losing students to vo-tech & magnet schools.
– Accountability in how student outcomes are measured.
Republicans have a plan to fix the formula and lower property taxes. But Trenton Democrats are standing in the way.
Thank you to all of you who have reached out and discussed this matter with Gerry, Declan and me. For those who have not yet had the opportunity, our message to you as to how you can help is very simple:
– Call the Governor’s Office
– Email the chairs of the education committees.
– Demand a hearing.
– Demand action.
– Demand fairness.
Because no district should be forced to choose between educating students and staying solvent. Local taxpayers should not be left to pay the bill for a crisis they did not create, especially after the Governor made a clear pledge to fully fund education and avoid property tax increases.
