How Will Christie's School Funding Plan Impact Mendham, Chester Taxpayers?

Governor Chris Christie made waves Tuesday when he unveiled a proposed funding formula change for New Jersey’s schools that would equalize spending for each student in the state.

In doing so, Christie said, it would mean potentially lower property tax bills for residents in high-cost areas, but an enormous funding loss in poorer, urban areas known as Abbott districts.

Christie’s plan would equalize spending to a level of $6,599 per student in the state. That figure came from the $9.1 billion spent by the state this year divided by each enrolled student in grades kindergarten through 12.

In a statement released by the governor’s office Tuesday, blame was laid on the state’s “Abbott” districts – 31 school districts in court-classified “poorer urban” areas – for taking up so much of the state’s taxpayer money and funding aid.
See related: Christie Unveils New School Funding Plan; NJEA Calls It ‘Despicable’
The New Jersey Education Association assailed Christie’s plan, calling it despicable and claiming it would set the state’s education progress back decades.

But what would the governor’s plan, if implemented, mean to each individual school district in the state?
In the Mendhams and Chesters, state aid would skyrocket for students.

According to nj.com, which compiled a list of data showing the current per-pupil aid by district versus what that figure would be under Christie’s plan, Mendham Township, Mendham Borough, the Chesters and West Morris Regional would see massive increases.

Mendham Borough would see an increase in state aid from $452.96 to $6,067.04. Mendham Township would see an increase from $619.34 to $5,880.66. The consolidated school district of the Chesters would see a change from $932.78 to $5,567.22.

Aid per pupil in the West Morris Regional High School District is currently $1,713.65, the data showed. That would jump 279-percent and add $4,786.35 in state funds.

A look at the data shows students in the Abbott districts stand to lose millions under the proposed plan. Camden would see a $23,634.77 loss per student, followed by Asbury Park, where funding would decrease $22,384.78 for each pupil.

See nj.com's full list of state districts here.