OLD BRIDGE, N.J. — Democratic leaders in Old Bridge are publicly calling on Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill to revisit the state’s school funding formula, arguing that years of aid reductions have left the township struggling to support its public schools despite rising education costs.
In a July 31 letter addressed to the governor, members of the Old Bridge Democratic County Committee said the township has experienced “significant reductions in state aid” since implementation of the S2 school funding law in 2017, while costs for special education, transportation, healthcare and school security have continued to rise.
- Old Bridge Democrats asked Gov. Mikie Sherrill to review New Jersey’s school funding formula.
- Local leaders said S2 aid reductions have increased pressure on municipal taxpayers.
- Republicans have spent years seeking changes to the Murphy-era funding law.
Democrats seek changes to Murphy-era formula
The letter asks the governor to review the School Funding Reform Act and re-evaluate the Local Fair Share calculation to better reflect each community’s ability to pay. The local Democratic leaders also proposed allowing municipalities to share PILOT revenue with school districts and called for stronger collaboration between local governments and boards of education.
“Our request is not for special treatment, but for a funding system that is fair, transparent, predictable, and sustainable,” the letter states. “New Jersey’s students deserve adequately funded schools, and taxpayers deserve a formula that fairly balances state support with local responsibility.”
The letter was signed by Old Bridge Democratic County Committee Chairwoman Jill Gualtieri-DeCaro and Democratic Council members David Merwin and Kiran Desai.
What is the S2 school funding law?
The S2 law was signed by former Gov. Phil Murphy in 2018 after being approved by the Legislature. Officially known as Senate Bill 2, the measure was designed to phase state education aid toward districts deemed underfunded while reducing aid to districts considered to be receiving more than the state’s funding formula recommended.
Supporters argued the law would create a more equitable distribution of state education dollars. However, many suburban districts—including Old Bridge—experienced multi-year reductions in aid despite facing increasing operating expenses and enrollment challenges.
For several years, Republican legislators representing many of the affected suburban communities have introduced legislation and repeatedly called for changes to the formula, arguing that it relies on outdated assumptions about municipal wealth and does not adequately account for rising education costs, inflation, or communities with growing tax burdens. While some adjustments have been made through annual budget negotiations, lawmakers from both parties continue to debate broader reforms.
Bipartisan concerns emerge
Old Bridge’s appeal marks another example of Democrats representing municipalities affected by S2 publicly seeking revisions to the funding formula. The township joins a growing number of communities that have argued the state’s calculations no longer reflect local fiscal realities.
The letter notes that while lawmakers have adopted measures such as aid stabilization and growth caps, local officials believe additional reforms are necessary to create a funding system they describe as “fair, transparent, predictable, and sustainable.”
FAQ
- What are Old Bridge Democrats asking for?
They are requesting Gov. Mikie Sherrill review and revise New Jersey’s school funding formula and Local Fair Share calculation. - What is S2?
S2 is the Murphy-era law that phased school aid toward districts deemed underfunded while reducing aid to others over several years. - Why is this significant?
Concerns over school funding cuts have largely come from Republican-led suburban districts in recent years, but Democratic leaders in Old Bridge are now publicly calling for reforms as well.
Sources: Old Bridge Democratic County Committee letter to Gov. Mikie Sherrill; New Jersey S2 school funding law.
