Galloway Schools To Receive More Funding Under 2023-24 Budget

GALLOWAY, NJ — New Jersey's proposed budget for fiscal year 2024 includes an increased amount of aid for Galloway and Greater Egg Harbor schools.

Earlier this week, Gov. Phil Murphy's administration proposed its fiscal year 2024 budget, including an $834 million increase in direct school aid —8.42 percent more than last year's budgeted amount.

The state Department of Education released state school aid summaries for K-12 schools and preschools under that proposed budget on Thursday.

The Galloway Township School District is getting an increase of 4.56 percent in state aid, according to the state Department of Education. The total aid is $27,662,176.

Meanwhile, the Greater Egg Harbor Regional School District is getting an increase of 2.70 percent, according to the DOE. The total aid is $37,748,590.

Murphy proposed an additional $834.4 million in state school aid in his 2024 budget, bringing the total in formula aid to $10.75 billion. Murphy also proposes an additional $109 million towards the state’s universal preschool program. Read more: Tax Relief, Debt Service, Transit Fare Freeze: 3 NJ Budget Takeaways

Since the 2020-21 school year, the state has determined its annual distribution of education aid through S2 — a controversial funding formula passed in 2018, Murphy's first year in office.

The governor has defended S2, saying the funding formula had to change to address inequities within the state. But critics have pointed to the losses in state aid among many school districts, which has resulted in cuts while other districts get increases.

FY2024 would be the sixth of seven state budgets that S2 will impact, with the goal of fully funding education under the formula by 2025.

School made up 62.1 percent of Galloway's property taxes in 2022, according to recently released data. Read more: Average Property Tax Bill In Galloway Remains Low, Latest Data Says