Republican Leaders Introduce School Aid Proposal

Governor Corzine has proposed a $711,836,000 adequate school budget for the Newark school district and $707,109,000 in state aid. That represents a 2 percent increase in state aid over last year.

Based upon Newark’s student enrollment of 44,720 students, Corzine’s spending and state aid per student is as follows:

Corzine’s Proposal – Newark District
Adequate budget per student: $15,918
State aid per student: $15,812
Funds per student required from Property Taxes and/or Federal Aid: $116

According to this press release, Senate Republican Leader Leonard Lance, Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce, and Senate Republican Leader-elect Thomas Kean have a better idea.

The Republican leaders propose a 3.5 percent increase in state aid for the Newark school district, bringing the total to $717,507,475.

Based upon the Republican proposal, spending and state aid per student for Newark would be as follows:

Republican Proposal – Newark District
Adequate Budget per student: $15,918
State Aid per student: $16,044
Funds per student required from Property Taxes and/or Federal Aid: - $126

Truly mind boggling.

Update: We thought you might be interested to see how the hometowns of Republican Leaders make out under Corzine’s plan and the one Lance, DeCroce and Kean were scheduled to introduce today. Here are the details

Leonard Lance, Flemington

Corzine Proposal Flemington
Adequate Budget = $38,886,199
State Aid = $7,612,601
Enrollment = 3,412
Adequate Budget per student = $11,397
State Aid per student = $2,231
Funds per student required from Property Taxes and/or Federal Aid: $9,166

Republican Proposal Flemington
No Change from Corzine plan

Alex DeCroce - Morris Plains

Corzine Proposal Morris Plains
Enrollment = 838
Adequate Budget = $10,894,790
State Aid = $985,690
Adequate Budget per student = $13,001
State Aid per student = $1,176
Funds per student required from Property Taxes and/or Federal Aid: $11,825

Republican Proposal Morris Plains
Adequate Budget = $10,894,790
State Aid = $1,000,186 (reflects 3.5 % increase, a total of $14,496 more than Corzine’s plan)
Adequate Budget per student = $13,001
State Aid per student = $1,194 (reflects $18 more per student than Corzine’s plan)
Funds per student required from Property Taxes and/or Federal Aid: $11,807

Tom Kean – Westfield

Corzine Proposal Westfield
Enrollment = 6,205
Adequate Budget = $77,743,063
State Aid = $5,051,068
Adequate Budget per student = $12,529.
State Aid per student = $814
Funds per student required from Property Taxes and/or Federal Aid: $11,715

Republican Proposal Westfield
Adequate Budget = $77,743,063
State Aid = $5,125,348 (reflects 3.5 % increase, a total of $74,280 more than Corzine’s plan)
Adequate Budget per student = $12.529
State Aid per student = $826 (reflects $12 more per student than Corzine’s plan)
Funds per student required from Property Taxes and/or Federal Aid: $11,703