Senator Carmen Amato, Jr., Assemblyman Brian Rumpf, and Assemblyman Gregory Myhre announced on Mar. 31 plans to introduce legislation aimed at fully restoring state funding for school districts that have experienced significant cuts under New Jersey’s current school funding formula.
The proposed legislation responds to what the lawmakers describe as ongoing inequities in how state aid is distributed. The delegation said the formula has led to severe reductions in aid for certain districts while others continue to receive higher levels of support.
In a joint statement, Amato, Rumpf, and Myhre said: “The state’s blatantly rigged school funding formula continues to take a heavy toll on students, educators, and taxpayers through discriminatory aid cuts and chronic underfunding that can only be described as draconian.” They added that despite awareness of these issues among decision-makers in Trenton, “their actions ensure that excessive amounts of state school aid are consistently funneled to Newark and other favored districts with questionable budgetary practices. Meanwhile, school districts such as Lacey, Little Egg Harbor, Stafford, and Waretown are forced to make do through layoffs, busing cuts, higher taxes, and even the sale of school buildings.”
The legislators also criticized the lack of transparency surrounding the process by which these reductions have been implemented. “We have long objected to both the aid cuts and the deliberately nontransparent process by which they have been imposed without regard for the consequences,” they said. The statement notes that although some affected districts were expected to see modest increases after years of reductions—still below original levels—a six percent cap was put in place on those increases.
Amato’s delegation further stated: “With this new dynamic at play, we will introduce legislation to restore school aid to those districts that were consistently shortchanged by the Murphy Administration during his tenure. As it stands, the current formula is an embarrassment…” They also addressed Governor Sherrill’s recent budget proposal: “Governor Sherrill promised to reform how our schools are funded but her first proposed State Budget is simply more of the same.”
Broader discussions about legislative roles highlight figures like Senator Anthony M. Bucco who provides constituent services through his district office according to the official website. Bucco serves as Senate Republican Leader for District 25; he chairs committees including Judiciary while serving on Budget and Appropriations according to the official website.
As efforts continue around education policy reforms statewide—including bill sponsorships by leaders like Bucco—lawmakers from various regions signal ongoing debate over how best to ensure fair treatment for all New Jersey students.