(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly Democrats John Burzichelli and Celeste Riley sponsored to help property taxpayers in school districts that have seen sharp enrollment increases has been signed into law.
The law (A-2559) makes a supplemental appropriation of $4.141 million from the Property Tax Relief Fund to the Department of Education to provide additional state school aid to districts – other than non-operating or county vocational school districts – that have experienced significant enrollment growth since the 2008-2009 school year.
It is anticipated that the following districts will receive additional school aid under the law: Edgewater Borough, Chesterfield Township, Sea Isle City, East Greenwich Township, Kingsway Regional, South Harrison Township, Swedesboro-Woolwich, Avon Borough, Deal Borough, Highlands Borough, Red Bank Borough, Tuckerton Borough and Elmer Borough.
“Democrats have worked tirelessly the last two years to provide increased property tax relief to New Jersey’s working families, but this is another approach designed to help districts that have seen significant enrollment growth,” said Burzichelli (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland). “It’s a fair and sensible plan.”
“Property tax relief is a top priority,” said Riley (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland). “These districts battling with sharp enrollment hikes need the most help, so this Democratic plan aims to provide them with relief they need.”
To receive the additional aid, the district’s projected resident enrollment for October 2011 must exceed the actual October 2008 resident enrollment by at least 13 percent. An eligible district will receive aid equal to the change in the resident enrollment between October 2008 and October 2011 multiplied by the per pupil amount of equalization aid, special education and security categorical aid, and adjustment aid received in the 2008-2009 school year.
