Annetta, Piperno, Eulner Applaud Oroho’s School Funding Formula Evaluation Task Force Bill

MONMOUTH COUNTY N.J. – Lori Annetta, who is running for State Senate in 11th Legislative District, along with Marilyn Piperno and Kim Eulner, both currently running for Assembly in the Legislative Distric, fully support Senator Steve Oroho, the Republican Budget Officer’s bill (S-3617) which would launch a School Funding Formula Evaluation Task Force. Annetta, Piperno, and Eulner believe after years of band-aids and neglect of the issues by elected officials like Assemblywoman Joann Downey and Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling, this task force would be critical in fixing the real issues regarding school funding.

“This task force is needed due to the lack of leadership of elected officials like Gopal, Downey, and Houghtaling,” said Annetta. “Instead of protecting the people they were elected to represent, they voted to allow multiple schools in Monmouth County to lose needed funding, without addressing any of the issues that caused funding problems in the first place.”

In 2019, Downey and Houghtaling voted to cut more than $38 million from school districts they represent, with 10 school districts from the 11th Legislative District losing funds. The Asbury Park Press reported of the ten school districts, Asbury Park, Freehold Regional, and Neptune Township were in the top ten that have lost the most funding statewide, with a combined $8.8 million.

“It’s a shame that Downey and Houghtaling continue to show a pattern of voting for bills that look good on paper but don’t help anyone,” stated Piperno. “When we are in Trenton, we will make sure education is a priority and ensure no school is left to fend for itself.”

“The school funding formula is broken and needs serious review,” stated Eulner. “We need to ensure that the children of New Jersey start off on the right foot. School funding plays a huge role in achieving this goal. We must find a fair and achievable way to guarantee that every school is receiving the funds needed, without hurting other schools in the process. In the end, the children are the ones who are suffering from the poor problem-solving abilities of leaders like Downey and Houghtaling.”