(Middletown, NJ) As if the burden of property taxes wasn’t bad enough in New Jersey, Gov. Murphy and the education industrial complex are forcing towns to spend more on schools than taxpayers can afford, says Rich Castaldo, Republican Primary Election candidate in the 13th Legislative District in Monmouth County.

Castaldo, an entrepreneurial businessman, said it is “outrageous” that Gov. Phil Murphy would order 281 school districts to exceed the 2 % state budget cap to fund their operations. Nineteen of those districts are in Monmouth County and four are in LD-13: Hazlet, Keansburg, Keyport and Union Beach.

“In his final year of devastation to the state of New Jersey taxpayers, Gov. Murphy is again burdening the taxpayers and harming senior citizens who can barely afford to stay in New Jersey, while succumbing to the wishes of the NJEA leadership, which has an inexhaustible appetite for money from taxpayers, “ said Castaldo.
“The NJEA’s (New Jersey Education Association) vast political war chest has bought the allegiance of state legislators – such as my opponent in the Primary Election - and the governor – none of whom are willing to say “no” to the demands for more school spending. Gov. Murphy's administration identified 281 of the state's 590 operating school districts that were not taxing their residents enough to pay for schools and were not spending enough money to adequately educate their students, according to the Asbury Park Press this week.

“Now is the time to begin the dismantling of the educational industrial complex that sucks nearly $30 billion dollars a year out of the pockets of property owners,” says Castaldo.

“Every time the discussion of education comes up in Trenton, the solution is always the same – more spending, and higher taxes,” added Castaldo, a 41-year-old father from Middletown.
“There is another way to approach the education cost problem that no one in Trenton ever considers: “Cutting unnecessary spending,” says Castaldo.

“Billions of dollars are spent on schools each year, with little transparency about how that money is being used,” says Castaldo, who graduated from Rutgers University cum laude with a degree from the school of management and labor relations.

“We need a DOGE plan for New Jersey, starting with a thorough examination of how schools are spending the taxpayers’ money,” says Castaldo – similar to President Trump Administration’s Department of Government Efficiency.
“As a businessman, when faced with economic constraints, I look for ways to increase efficiency and cut what is unnecessary before I increase prices. Government should be run the same way,” says Castaldo.

Castaldo said the state’s school aid funding formula needs to be scrapped and a new fairer plan put in place.

“I know a fair school funding plan has been talked about for years, but we have now reached an unprecedented property tax crisis in New Jersey and it is time for Republicans to a stop talking about fair school funding and start working to make it a reality,” says Castaldo.

Examining the latest state aid school funding plan for FY 2026, Castaldo points out that all of Monmouth County will receive $313.54 million – or an increase of just 0.5% - the second smallest increase of any county in the state. Monmouth receives less school aid than any other county with a population of more than 500,000 people, except for Morris County.
Meanwhile, Democratic controlled counties will enjoy sizable increases:
• Essex County’s total school aid will increase $5.26%to $2.07 BILLION – with Newark receiving $1.2 billion of that money.
• Camden County will get a 4.35% increase in aid to $1.03 BILLION, up from $995.54 million in the last fiscal year.
• Passaic County’s school aid will increase $3.42 % to $1.15 BILLION, with Paterson getting $618 million of that sum -- a 6 % increase.
Meanwhile, Hazlet is losing $196,653 in total school aid of $6.35 million - a loss of 3%.
Union Beach is also losing 3% in school aid in FY 2026 – down to $5.55 million.
Keyport will lose $170,267 from its previous year’s school aid – down to $5.5 million; a cut of 3%.
Keansburg, despite an 6 % increase in school aid totaling $25.75 million in the coming fiscal year, is on the governor’s list of districts that must raise school spending.

“The school aid formula needs a complete overhaul – and if that means that Republicans need to take the case for fair funding to the U.S. Supreme Court, let’s do it. Doing nothing is no longer an option,” said Castaldo.

To learn more about Rich Castaldo and his campaign go to https://castaldoforassembly.com/
LD 13 Encompasses: Aberdeen, Atlantic Highlands, Hazlet, Highlands, Holmdel, Keansburg, Keyport, Little Silver, Marlboro, Middletown, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Rumson, Sea Bright, Union Beach, West Long Branch.