Trenton, NJ – Republican Senators Anthony M. Bucco and Owen Henry are sounding the alarm over widespread school funding cuts they say are forcing municipalities to raise property taxes, lay off staff, and close schools — all while Trenton Democrats ignore GOP-backed solutions.
If taxes are your number one concern, New Jersey probably isn’t the state for you, the governor has boasted. Now, if adequate school funding is a concern, it’s probably not your state either.
The criticism comes as districts like Old Bridge report steep property tax hikes tied to reduced state aid. Bucco and Henry argue that Governor Phil Murphy and the Democrat-led Legislature have refused to fix New Jersey’s school funding formula, despite multiple Republican proposals.
“Governor Murphy and Trenton Democrats ignored our help and instead endorsed devastating school aid cuts,” said Bucco, who pointed to increases in local taxes and widespread program reductions as fallout from what he called mismanaged funding priorities. He accused the administration of wasting federal COVID relief and prioritizing “pork over pupils.”
Bucco previously raised concerns in February when the Governor’s proposed budget included cuts to more than 100 districts, calling for legislative hearings and transparency around the funding formula.
Senator Henry called the situation in Old Bridge “heartbreaking” and warned that without action, New Jersey risks undermining its public education system. “If we don’t protect homeowners from unsustainable tax hikes, we risk the quality of our education system,” he said.
Both senators have introduced bills to restore lost aid and provide emergency funding to impacted districts. So far, those proposals have not advanced in the Democrat-controlled Legislature.
Key Points
- Senators Bucco and Henry blame school aid cuts for forcing towns like Old Bridge to hike property taxes.
- Republicans say Democrats rejected reform proposals that could have prevented layoffs and program cuts.
- GOP lawmakers have introduced legislation to restore aid and provide emergency school funding.
GOP senators say school funding cuts are hammering local districts while Democrats keep them out of the solution.