TOMS RIVER, NJ—If you ask most people in rural suburban communities across New Jersey if their school districts are being properly funded, you’ll probably get an earful about cut programs, reductions in teachers, and possible school closures.
While Governor Phil Murphy touts the success of S2 school funding that sends more New Jersey property tax revenue to underprivileged schools, those in the suburbs feel the financial pressure in towns like Toms River and Jackson.
Many other districts across the suburbs of New Jersey are losing millions annually at the hands of Governor Phil Murphy.
Recently, Governor Murphy even suggested that school districts suffering from funding cuts at the hands of the governor should consider closing schools and firing teachers.
This week, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie joined the fight against Phil Murphy’s less than honest view of the state of school funding in New Jersey.
“The prior administration underfunded public education by nearly $9 billion, shortchanging students and causing property taxes to spike. With our $11.7 billion investment in my FY25 Budget, we are the first Administration in state history to fund the school funding formula fully,” Murphy said.
Christie, who said he has bit his tongue more than once over statements made by Murphy during his six years in office said he can’t refrain any longer.
“While there have been many times I have been tempted to respond to the inaccuracies on this page over the last seven years, I have tried to observe the tradition of not commenting on my successor’s performance. This post is so inaccurate that I must,” Christie said.
Christie pointed out that in the ten years prior to his administration (2001-2010), property taxes rose 70%, an average of 7% per year. Over the eight years of his administration, property taxes rose 15.8%, an average of 1.98% per year. His 2% maximum tax cap laws saved NJ taxpayers $18.2 billion.
“Property taxes did not “spike” in our administration. This administration is welcome to their own policies on property taxes as they are on state spending which is up 61% over our last budget ($21.2b) an average of 8.7% per year. They are just not entitled to their own facts,” he added. “