Cuts In State Aid For Haddon Twp. Schools In Gov. Murphy Budget

HADDON TOWNSHIP, NJ — Haddon Township schools are set to receive less state funding for the next school year. The Haddonfield School District will get additional aid, according to figures released Thursday by the New Jersey Department of Education.

Gov. Phil Murphy's $55.9 billion state-budget proposal, which he introduced Tuesday, includes $11.7 billion in aid for K-12 public schools. Under the proposal, the Haddon Township School District would receive $9.2 million in equalization aid — an 8.1 percent decrease from this year's total of nearly $10 million from the state.

Haddonfield is slated for $3.4 million from the state — 11.8 percent higher than this year's allocation of $3 million.

Property taxes in New Jersey are made up of three parts: school, municipal and county. Equalization aid from the state budget is meant to ameliorate funding gaps among school districts throughout New Jersey.

State aid is an influential factor in a school district's share of property taxes. Many districts say that cuts, or even flat spending, force them to raise taxes for local homeowners. While Murphy's budget is merely a proposal, the state-aid figures provide school districts with a roadmap for developing their 2024-25 school year budgets.

Overall, Murphy has proposed a $908 billion increase in K-12 aid over the current state budget.

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More than 60 school districts around the state will see funding cuts in double-digit percentages, according to proposed district-by-district funding data published this week. Another 200-plus are poised to see aid increases in the double-digit percentages.

During his annual budget address to legislators Tuesday, Murphy noted that his proposal includes the largest investment in public education in state history. The budget would fully fund the state’s school funding formula for the first time.

The State Legislature now has several months to tinker with Murphy's budget proposal. Lawmakers must approve a balanced budget for the governor's signature before July 1, when the new fiscal year begins.