Lenape Regional H.S. District to Get a $2M Boost in State Aid

MEDFORD, NJ — The Lenape Regional School District will receive additional state funding under a bill recently signed by Governor Murphy to offset the cuts caused by calculations under the School Funding Reform Act.

Under the new law, Lenape Regional School District (BRSD) will receive $2,111.448 to help ease the impact of $4.6 million in state aid cuts announced in March. The proposed school aid 19.86 percent cut in funding would bring the district's funding down to $18,931,779, which includes dollars for transportation, special education, and security.

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T he Lenape Regional High School District — where Mount Laurel high school students attend — was expecting to see their school aid slashed by 19.86 percent. The proposed school aid would cut funding by $4,692,106 to a total of $18,931,779, which includes dollars for transportation, special education, and security.

Governor Murphy said that his Administration strives "to ensure every child in New Jersey receives the top-notch education that has become synonymous with our state's public education system."

"Through seven budget cycles, we have never wavered on our commitment to our school communities – and that rings true today," said Murphy. "With this legislation, we are giving local school districts critical support during trying times, as difficult financial realities muddy the already complex process of adopting a balanced budget."

In addition to providing supplementary state aid, the legislation allows certain districts experiencing reductions in state aid to request increases in their adjusted property tax levies above the two percent cap established under current law.

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"The combination of additional state aid and school district tax levy growth cap flexibility achieved by this legislation strikes a key balance: easing the transition to full funding amounts while further empowering school districts to sustain education and support programs beyond S2's phase-in schedule," said Kevin Dehmer, Acting Commissioner of Education. "For our part, the Department is committed to working with districts on finalizing their budget plans for next school year; for their part, this legislation provides districts additional revenue sources to further help transition to sustainable spending plans that meet the needs of all students."

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