NJ GOP Senators Urge Sherrill to Restore School Aid Before Budget Deadline, Warn of Cuts and Tax Hikes

Trenton, NJ — Two Republican state senators are pressing Gov. Mikie Sherrill to reverse proposed limits on school funding, warning that districts across New Jersey are already cutting programs and raising property taxes as they finalize budgets. Sen. Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) and Sen. Carmen Amato Jr. (R-Ocean) sent a letter urging the governor to immediately restore uncapped, formula-driven school aid increases and update revenue projections to reflect stronger-than-expected tax collections. Without quick action, they argue, schools will lock in reductions that could have been avoided. The request comes as districts face deadlines to adopt budgets for the upcoming school year, with many already adjusting spending based on the governor’s proposal. Lawmakers say aid caps block funding schools are owed At the center of the dispute is the administration’s decision to continue capping increases in school aid, even for districts that would otherwise receive larger boosts under the state’s funding formula. The senators argue that policy deprives schools of money they are legally entitled to receive. “When many of those same districts were finally due for an increase under the formula, the [administration] arbitrarily decided to cap their aid increases at 6%, depriving them of dollars that they are entitled to