| Jefferson Township Public Schools announced the sale of a third school and the sale of its central office due to state aid cuts enacted under S2, the legislation passed seven years ago that has caused significant financial difficulties for education across the state.
Assembly representatives Aura Dunn and Christian Barranco – a resident of Jefferson Township – denounced Trenton Democrats for causing the financial difficulties.
“The state aid cuts to Jefferson are unjustifiable and unacceptable,” said Barranco (R-Morris). “The constitution mandates that the state should fully fund every school district to provide a thorough and efficient education. Torpedoing a school district’s finances completely violates that mandate. Democrats in the legislature need to stop letting this happen and work with Republicans to reverse the damage.”
Dunn and Barranco sponsor legislation, A1125, which would have restored Jefferson schools’ state aid cuts under S2 for this school year and provided the opportunity to lower property taxes in the town, which have increased significantly as a result of state aid cuts.
The bill fully funds every school district up to its adequacy budget and increases property tax reserves, known as banked cap, to help school districts during a potential recession. The cost is the same as the proposed StayNJ program, and would lower property taxes by an average of $874 in the first year, and continue to lower property taxes annually.
“Jefferson school district has reduced staff, closed three schools, implemented fees on parents, and adjusted its insurance plans. The district has exhausted grant opportunities and depleted reserve accounts,” decried Dunn (R-Morris). “Class sizes continue to grow, what’s left of programs and services are depleted, too. This is a desperate situation and the only reason Democrats are ignoring it is because they don’t represent the people facing the dire situation Democrats caused.” |
