Watchung, Green Brook See Flat State Aid

Watchung and Green Brook schools are each expecting to see completely flat state aid figures, according to the information released from the state Thursday.

Green Brook Township School District will be receiving $911,173 for the 2013-2014 school year, the same it received for the 2012-2013 school year.

In Green Brook, the , as well as an increase in the special services budget by $152,520 for tuition for special education students, plus another $60,000 for other tuition costs.

Watchung Borough schools will be receiving $410,657 for the 2013-2014 school year, also the same as last year.

Watchung Hills Regional looks to have it pretty good in the state aid figures also, with a 3.5 increase—$31,766—in state aid coming to the school.

But Watchung Hills Business Administrator Tim Stys says that's only part of the story. 

"We actually received a 'net' state aid decrease of $19,212," Stys said.

So while the focus is on the state's aid figures for special education, transportation and security—which totals $934,159 for Watchung Hills Regional—another figure, called the School Development Authority Debt Assessment, reduces the aid the district will receive. This year, the assessment for Watchung Hills is being increased by $50,978, leaving the district $19,212 behind last year. 

"Considering that we have had enrollment increases for the past two years and that we still receive over 50 percent less state aid then we did four years ago, I’d say this is disappointing," Stys said. "The people of these communities deserve better.

"With that said, we are prepared for it and will not have to make material changes to the budget," he added.