SOMERVILLE, N.J. – Over $4.2 million of state aid has been slashed from schools represented by Assemblymen Andrew Zwicker and Roy Freiman. By 2025, that will rise to over $11.5 million, something Zwicker voted for and Freiman hid from to avoid angering his Democrat bosses in Trenton.

“This is machine politics at its worst, and Andrew Zwicker and Roy Freiman obey their marching orders – even when it is against the best interest of the people they are supposed to represent,” said Mike Pappas, a candidate for state Senate in the 16th Legislative District. “The state has enough money to fully fund every school and avoid cuts. But you won’t hear that from politicians that only represent themselves and their party bosses.”

The state school funding formula is roughly $1.5 billion short of giving schools what they are legally owed. This year, the $46.4 billion budget provides $9.26 billion for the formula. Income tax revenue, which is used to fund schools, is expected to be nearly $17 billion.

“Under Roy Freiman’s watch, his hometown – Hillsborough – is on pace to lose over $6.4 million. He isn’t in the legislature to help his neighbors,” said Vinny Panico, a candidate for state Assembly in the 16th Legislative District. “He is in the legislature to do the bidding of Trenton Democrats. That’s why he hides under his desk and abstains on votes when the going gets tough.”

Hillsborough is one of a half dozen school districts facing up to 70% cuts in state aid. The burden of supporting school budgets will fall on property-tax payers, and possibly lead to teacher layoffs, program cuts and crowded classrooms. Between the income tax and property tax, New Jerseyans already provide over $32 billion toward schools.

“Property taxes are the biggest reason New Jersey is unaffordable for families that want to buy a house and live in a place with a good school district. These funding cuts are making it more difficult for young families to do that,” said Joe Lukac, a candidate for state Assembly in the 16th Legislative District. “Andrew Zwicker and Roy Freiman were too cowardly to fight for the school districts and people they are supposed to represent.”

Other school funding cuts under Zwicker and Freiman include $375,000 in Delaware Township, $2 million from Flemington-Raritan Regional, over $1.1 million from Hunterdon Central Regional, above $636,000 from Hunterdon County Vocational, and $1 million from Somerset County Vocational.

Watch candidates for Assembly in LD16 debate the school funding issue below.