JACKSON, NEW JERSEY — Less than 48 hours after bragging about $2.5 million in returned state aid to the Jackson School district and promising more aid, two New Jersey legislators are reporting more cuts by the Phil Murphy administration in 2025.
Assemblymen Alex Sauickie and Rob Clifton are now calling for explanations from the New Jersey Department of Education (DOE) following the announcement of significant state aid reductions for the Jackson and Old Bridge school districts. The latest state aid figures reveal nearly $7 million in cuts for the upcoming year, sparking concern and demands for school-funding reform from the legislators.
On Wednesday, the two legislators published a press release celebrating that they had successfully negotiated with the Murphy administration to restore funding.
The cuts impact Legislative District 12, which encompasses 16 school districts, with five experiencing reductions or stagnant funding. The overall aid decrease of almost $1.2 million from last year has hit Jackson Township and Old Bridge particularly hard, with projected losses of $4.5 million and $2.5 million, respectively.
Sauickie (R-Ocean) expressed frustration over the DOE’s claim of fully funding the education formula despite these reductions. Jackson Township, already suffering from $18 million in cuts over six years, resulting in over 200 job losses, increased class sizes, and the elimination of programs and sports, faces further financial strain. This district had previously borrowed over $10 million from the state due to budget shortfalls.
The assemblymen are seeking justification from the DOE’s acting commissioner, Kevin Dehmer, and his team for these additional funding reductions, emphasizing the detrimental impact on the affected communities’ educational resources.