Staff, Middle School Sports May Be Saved In Hillsborough Under New Law

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Cuts in school staff members and the elimination of middle school sports may be saved in Hillsborough after Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation on Tuesday to provide support to districts seeing reductions in school funding aid.

The bill, A4161, establishes a $44.7 million Stabilized School Budget Aid Grant Program under the Department of Education to provide grants comparable to 45 percent of a school district’s state school aid cut for the upcoming school year.

"With this legislation, we are giving local school districts critical support during trying times, as difficult financial realities muddy the already complex process of adopting a balanced budget. I am pleased to provide relief to school districts facing reductions in aid," said Murphy.

For the 2025 fiscal year, the Hillsborough School District was initially going to lose $2,728,504 in school state aid compared to last year. Superintendent Michal Volpe called the $2.7 million cut "outrageous."

As a result, the Hillsborough Township Board of Education had to make the harsh decision to pass a final 2024-25 school budget which included not filling $1.1 million worth of unfilled referendum positions, not replacing four positions from retiring staff, cutting three staff members, and eliminating middle school sports.

Volpe told Patch that he is excited the legislation was passed but that it was also a "band-aid approach" since the return of funding is just for this year.

"We are planning on using the return of 45 percent of state aid to keep our staff, we are looking at the return of middle school sports, and other provisions," said Volpe.

Volpe added that the Board still needs to double-check all of their numbers and see what can be restored "in a sustainable way so we don't have to look at cuts year after year."

"My intent is to restore all cuts, any cuts including in the referendum," said Volpe. The return of middle school sports is also a priority. We have to double-check all of the numbers."

Murphy's bill also allows certain districts experiencing reductions in state aid to request increases in their adjusted property tax levies above the current two percent cap.

Since the S2 state school funding formula began the Hillsborough School District has lost a cumulative $7 million since the 2018-19 school year.

Volpe noted that the bill allowing school districts to recoup their losses from state aid is "game-changing."

"No one wants to raise taxes, believe me I am a local taxpayer, but we need to look at all of our options," said Volpe.

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