TOMS RIVER, NJ — Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and Paul Kanitra (R-Ocean) are criticizing Gov. Phil Murphy’s school funding proposal, arguing that it deliberately underfunds schools while forcing districts to raise property taxes.
“Schools are deliberately not fully funded and Murphy is trying to frame it as preventing losses,” McGuckin said.
The latest funding allocations cap school aid increases at 6% while limiting losses to 3%. Critics argue this prevents districts that previously faced major funding cuts—such as Toms River and Brick—from receiving their full entitlement. Over the past seven years, Toms River lost nearly $40 million in state aid, while Brick lost over $20 million, leading to significant reductions in staff and programs.
Kanitra accused Murphy of conditioning additional school aid on property tax hikes.
“Murphy is literally telling schools they need to raise property taxes if they want the aid he’s keeping from them,” he said.
The Murphy administration has not disclosed how much funding schools would have received without the cap. However, the governor’s budget proposes that districts raising taxes to meet their “local fair share” could recoup withheld funds, a move Republicans equate to financial coercion.