Brick Schools Applying For New Tax Levy Incentive Aid

BRICK, NJ — The Brick Township School District is applying for a state program it hopes will garner more state funding for the 2025-26 school budget.

The Tax Levy Incentive Aid program, part of the state's proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, is open to districts whose spending is under adequacy — meaning they are not spending what the state says they should be to provide a thorough and efficient education as mandated by the New Jersey Constitution — and whose property tax levy is below the local fair share.

The Brick Township schools meet both of these criteria. The $166 million tentative budget is $28 million below adequacy, and its property tax levy is $40 million below its local fair share, according to the state Department of Education.

A resolution approved Monday night by the Brick Township Board of Education seeks approval from the state to increase its expenditures "up to $5,500,000 to support operations that if not supported would have a negative impact on the district’s ability to satisfy the State thoroughness and efficiency standards," according to the agenda for the special meeting that was held.

The resolution says the district would be eligible under the program "to increase expenditures by $41,030,494 and qualify for Tax Levy Incentive Aid in the amount of $1,000,000."

The agenda includes a statement that the resolution "is not a vote to raise taxes but rather a vote to apply for additional revenues through a State tax levy incentive program."

Details about the Tax Levy Incentive Aid program could not be located on the state's websites on Monday evening, however a report by TapInto on the East Brunswick School District says the program would allow qualifying districts to get additional funding through a one-time exception to the 2 percent cap on tax levy increases. Districts that do so would receive additional aid from the state of 5 percent of the amount of the adjustment for the 2025-26 budget year, according to that report.

A notice published by the Collingswood School District to its residents includes a similar description of the program.

The Brick Schools would need approval from the state before they could move forward with the adjustment in the tax levy.

The board has a public hearing on the 2025-26 budget set for 7 p.m. April 28 at the Professional Development Center on Hendrickson Boulevard.

Read more: $166M Tentative Budget OK'd For Brick Schools