The (proposed) 2016-17 K-12 aid distribution would leave hundreds of New Jersey districts underaided, but not evenly so.
For 2016-17:
- 190 districts will be underaided by $1000 per student or more.
- 130 will be underaided by $2,000 per student or more.
- 82 will be underaided by $3,000 per student or more.
- 51 will be underaided by $4,000 per student or more.
- 30 will be underaided by $5,000 per student or more.
- 13 will be underaided by $6,000 per student or more.
- 7 will be underaided by $7,000 per student or more. (Fairview, Passaic County Vo-Tech, Atlantic County Vo-Tech, Freehold Boro, East Newark, Manchester Regional, and Bound Brook.)
- 1 (ONE) will be underaided by -$9,176, Bound Brook.
My personal (arbitrary but reasonable) threshold for severe underaiding is a per student deficit of $4,000 per student or more. I believe that underaiding below $4,000 a student is unacceptable and the state must prioritize bringing these districts up to a less-awful level of underaiding and then bring more and more districts up in a "raise the floor" strategy.
To bring the 51 districts who are underaided up to a $4,000 per student deficit would be $180,465,278. Excluding vo-techs, the cost would be $160,583,245.
$160 MILLION IS ACHIEVABLE!
$160 million is only 28% of the $567 million in excess aid that NJ's 199 overaided districts get. If we used just $80 million in new revenue or higher taxes overaided districts might only have to unclench $80 million, or not even 14% of their aid.
A $4,000 per student deficit would still be terrible for these districts, but it is a hell of a lot less awful than having a $5,000 per student deficit, a $6,000 per student deficit, or a $7,000 per student deficit.
| District | County | Estimated 2016-17 Student Pop. | Uncapped Aid 2016-17 | Capped Aid | Proposed Aid | Actual Aid Per Student | SFRA Aid Target | Aid Deficit Per Student | Amount of Money to Bring up to a $4,000 per student deficit |
| SOMERVILLE BORO | SOMERSET | 1,608 | $11,887,609 | $6,459,644 | $5,438,486 | $3,382 | $7,393 | -$4,011 | $17,123 |
| RIVERSIDE TWP | BURLINGTON | 1,263 | $16,014,953 | $13,019,760 | $10,939,934 | $8,662 | $12,680 | -$4,018 | $23,019 |
| ROSELLE PARK BORO | UNION | 2,004 | $18,615,015 | $12,552,317 | $10,554,830 | $5,267 | $9,289 | -$4,022 | $44,185 |
| EAST WINDSOR REG. | MERCER | 4,997 | $39,131,109 | $22,198,614 | $18,681,802 | $3,739 | $7,831 | -$4,092 | $461,307 |
| MAPLE SHADE TWP | BURLINGTON | 2,233 | $17,933,949 | $10,278,581 | $8,650,279 | $3,874 | $8,031 | -$4,157 | $351,670 |
| HILLSBOROUGH TWP (MILLSTONE) | SOMERSET | 77 | $428,863 | $125,690 | $106,759 | $1,386 | $5,570 | -$4,183 | $14,104 |
| BELLEVILLE TOWN | ESSEX | 4,596 | $45,505,776 | $30,869,910 | $25,971,780 | $5,651 | $9,901 | -$4,250 | $1,149,996 |
| NEWTON TOWN | SUSSEX | 1,106 | $10,710,680 | $7,023,182 | $5,934,041 | $5,365 | $9,684 | -$4,319 | $352,639 |
| CARTERET BORO | MIDDLESEX | 3,661 | $42,933,573 | $32,212,966 | $27,088,743 | $7,399 | $11,727 | -$4,328 | $1,200,830 |
| CLIFTON | PASSAIC | 11,012 | $75,751,502 | $31,510,847 | $26,578,363 | $2,414 | $6,879 | -$4,465 | $5,125,139 |
| WOODBRIDGE | MIDDLESEX | 13,531 | $84,770,585 | $28,345,702 | $23,934,460 | $1,769 | $6,265 | -$4,496 | $6,712,125 |
| HAMMONTON TOWN | ATLANTIC | 2,751 | $28,031,564 | $16,112,417 | $15,483,174 | $5,628 | $10,190 | -$4,561 | $1,544,390 |
| WOODLYNNE BORO | CAMDEN | 565 | $9,620,198 | $8,326,585 | $6,995,917 | $12,382 | $17,027 | -$4,645 | $364,281 |
| RED BANK BORO | MONMOUTH | 1,413 | $9,691,103 | $3,595,644 | $3,057,374 | $2,164 | $6,859 | -$4,695 | $981,729 |
| LINDEN | UNION | 5,789 | $48,548,430 | $23,327,473 | $21,342,950 | $3,687 | $8,386 | -$4,700 | $4,049,480 |
| KINGSWAY REGIONAL | GLOUCESTER | 2,453 | $20,478,875 | $10,490,855 | $8,866,900 | $3,615 | $8,349 | -$4,734 | $1,799,975 |
| DELRAN TWP | BURLINGTON | 3,055 | $26,256,160 | $13,842,684 | $11,649,439 | $3,813 | $8,594 | -$4,781 | $2,386,721 |
| CLAYTON BORO | GLOUCESTER | 1,374 | $16,555,142 | $11,697,448 | $9,975,618 | $7,260 | $12,049 | -$4,789 | $1,083,524 |
| WHARTON BORO | MORRIS | 800 | $7,949,786 | $4,286,351 | $4,095,834 | $5,120 | $9,937 | -$4,817 | $653,952 |
| BELLMAWR BORO | CAMDEN | 1,101 | $10,487,509 | $5,964,559 | $5,180,807 | $4,706 | $9,525 | -$4,820 | $902,702 |
| JAMESBURG | MIDDLESEX | 900 | $9,562,725 | $6,033,719 | $5,078,778 | $5,643 | $10,625 | -$4,982 | $883,947 |
| BLOOMFIELD | ESSEX | 6,443 | $53,754,269 | $24,990,977 | $21,057,962 | $3,268 | $8,343 | -$5,075 | $6,924,307 |
| WALLINGTON | BERGEN | 1,386 | $10,152,234 | $3,683,298 | $3,108,299 | $2,243 | $7,325 | -$5,082 | $1,499,935 |
| NORTH PLAINFIELD BORO | SOMERSET | 3,304 | $41,709,864 | $29,583,078 | $24,863,280 | $7,525 | $12,624 | -$5,099 | $3,630,584 |
| DUNELLEN | MIDDLESEX | 1,122 | $11,254,938 | $6,526,454 | $5,494,391 | $4,897 | $10,031 | -$5,134 | $1,272,547 |
| BAYONNE | HUDSON | 9,310 | $103,460,384 | $64,229,592 | $54,016,434 | $5,802 | $11,113 | -$5,311 | $12,203,950 |
| CHESTERFIELD | BURLINGTON | 801 | $4,679,985 | $484,246 | $419,983 | $524 | $5,843 | -$5,318 | $1,056,002 |
| NORTH BRUNSWICK | MIDDLESEX | 6,214 | $45,204,130 | $14,042,981 | $11,862,491 | $1,909 | $7,275 | -$5,366 | $8,485,639 |
| PROSPECT PARK | PASSAIC | 885 | $12,965,819 | $9,467,357 | $7,960,774 | $8,995 | $14,651 | -$5,655 | $1,465,045 |
| KEARNY | HUDSON | 5,833 | $64,095,299 | $36,761,574 | $30,928,987 | $5,302 | $10,988 | -$5,686 | $9,834,312 |
| HALEDON | PASSAIC | 1,023 | $12,720,150 | $8,167,399 | $6,869,486 | $6,715 | $12,434 | -$5,719 | $1,758,664 |
| LINDENWOLD | CAMDEN | 2,702 | $40,247,064 | $29,067,091 | $24,764,150 | $9,165 | $14,895 | -$5,730 | $4,674,914 |
| LODI | BERGEN | 3,373 | $34,037,808 | $17,243,096 | $14,508,710 | $4,301 | $10,091 | -$5,790 | $6,037,098 |
| LITTLE FERRY | BERGEN | 1,343 | $9,429,570 | $1,757,785 | $1,490,787 | $1,110 | $7,021 | -$5,911 | $2,566,783 |
| DOVER TOWN | MORRIS | 2,838 | $38,752,622 | $26,065,832 | $21,923,523 | $7,725 | $13,655 | -$5,930 | $5,477,099 |
| MANVILLE BORO | SOMERSET | 1,481 | $14,161,769 | $6,309,439 | $5,312,769 | $3,587 | $9,562 | -$5,975 | $2,925,000 |
| DOVER TOWN (VICTORY GARDENS) | MORRIS | 292 | $4,567,529 | $3,318,086 | $2,788,813 | $9,551 | $15,642 | -$6,091 | $610,716 |
| GUTTENBERG | HUDSON | 1,287 | $13,078,786 | $6,039,887 | $5,096,583 | $3,960 | $10,162 | -$6,202 | $2,834,203 |
| ELMWOOD PARK | BERGEN | 2,639 | $20,120,622 | $3,672,606 | $3,127,693 | $1,185 | $7,624 | -$6,439 | $6,436,929 |
| ATLANTIC CITY | ATLANTIC | 6,770 | $64,690,557 | $21,096,204 | $18,859,785 | $2,786 | $9,555 | -$6,770 | $18,750,772 |
| HI NELLA | CAMDEN | 143 | $1,846,524 | $1,028,254 | $866,421 | $6,059 | $12,913 | -$6,854 | $408,103 |
| RIDGEFIELD PARK TWP | BERGEN | 2,082 | $19,442,811 | $5,882,209 | $4,962,421 | $2,383 | $9,339 | -$6,955 | $6,152,390 |
| FAIRVIEW BORO | BERGEN | 1,704 | $19,607,972 | $8,872,379 | $7,478,669 | $4,389 | $11,507 | -$7,118 | $5,313,303 |
| FREEHOLD BORO | MONMOUTH | 1,692 | $22,573,828 | $11,571,900 | $9,744,020 | $5,759 | $13,342 | -$7,583 | $6,061,808 |
| EAST NEWARK | HUDSON | 410 | $6,616,994 | $4,074,908 | $3,426,439 | $8,357 | $16,139 | -$7,782 | $1,550,555 |
| MANCHESTER REG | PASSAIC | 892 | $13,678,851 | $6,218,363 | $6,588,302 | $7,386 | $15,335 | -$7,949 | $3,522,549 |
| BOUND BROOK | SOMERSET | 1,744 | $24,205,758 | $9,211,945 | $8,202,558 | $4,703 | $13,879 | -$9,176 | $9,027,200 |
| TOTAL: | $160,583,245 |
If New Jersey's political class wanted to increase the aid of the sub-$5,000 per student districts up to a $5,000 per student deficit, the amount would be $62,767,407, barely even a tenth of what NJ's overaided districts get in excess aid.
Percentage Underaiding
If a governor wanted to broaden the definition of severely underaided, he could consider the districts whose aid deficits are not exceptionally large, but who are severely underaided in percentage terms.
To bring up the 108 districts who get less than 50% of their uncapped aid and whose aid deficits are less than $4,000 per student up to 50% (which is still very bad underaiding) would cost
| District | County | Estimated 2016-17 Student Pop. | Uncapped Aid | Capped Aid | Actual Aid | Percentage of Uncapped Aid Received | Amount to Bring the District up to 50% Aid |
| BOONTON TWP | MORRIS | 708 | $949,605 | $511,415 | $474,134 | 49.9% | $669 |
| LITTLE FALLS TWP | PASSAIC | 879 | $1,086,586 | $582,143 | $540,494 | 49.7% | $2,799 |
| NORTHERN VALLEY REG. | BERGEN | 2,248 | $2,501,813 | $1,335,101 | $1,242,082 | 49.6% | $8,825 |
| RAMSEY | BERGEN | 2,558 | $2,688,992 | $1,423,418 | $1,325,991 | 49.3% | $18,505 |
| CRANBURY TWP | MIDDLESEX | 737 | $965,766 | $513,153 | $476,041 | 49.3% | $6,842 |
| SCOTCH PLAINS-FANWOOD | UNION | 5,293 | $6,157,214 | $3,242,259 | $3,014,466 | 49.0% | $64,141 |
| ALPINE | BERGEN | 226 | $301,313 | $158,275 | $146,821 | 48.7% | $3,836 |
| PARK RIDGE | BERGEN | 1,206 | $1,218,544 | $635,358 | $592,588 | 48.6% | $16,684 |
| DEMAREST | BERGEN | 682 | $683,874 | $356,439 | $332,477 | 48.6% | $9,460 |
| ORADELL | BERGEN | 749 | $728,528 | $378,941 | $353,732 | 48.6% | $10,532 |
| SAYREVILLE | MIDDLESEX | 6,186 | $44,035,804 | $25,319,506 | $21,330,942 | 48.4% | $686,960 |
| HOLMDEL TWP | MONMOUTH | 2,851 | $3,910,598 | $2,019,321 | $1,872,729 | 47.9% | $82,570 |
| BORDENTOWN | BURLINGTON | 2,572 | $16,824,155 | $9,532,595 | $8,028,133 | 47.7% | $383,945 |
| FAIR HAVEN BORO | MONMOUTH | 947 | $917,715 | $465,876 | $435,156 | 47.4% | $23,702 |
| WESTFIELD | UNION | 6,200 | $6,431,628 | $3,251,949 | $3,032,999 | 47.2% | $182,815 |
| WOODCLIFF LAKE | BERGEN | 757 | $777,246 | $391,762 | $365,484 | 47.0% | $23,139 |
| HARRINGTON PARK | BERGEN | 645 | $631,628 | $317,481 | $296,531 | 46.9% | $19,283 |
| FLORHAM PARK | MORRIS | 946 | $1,061,192 | $534,516 | $497,767 | 46.9% | $32,829 |
| WEST LONG BRANCH BORO | MONMOUTH | 549 | $604,421 | $304,255 | $283,442 | 46.9% | $18,769 |
| HIGHLAND PARK BORO | MIDDLESEX | 1,651 | $7,856,948 | $3,990,966 | $3,676,784 | 46.8% | $251,690 |
| PASCACK VALLEY REG. | BERGEN | 2,067 | $2,443,961 | $1,221,596 | $1,136,545 | 46.5% | $85,436 |
| EWING | MERCER | 3,531 | $20,825,956 | $10,556,319 | $9,668,087 | 46.4% | $744,891 |
| EDGEWATER | BERGEN | 1,357 | $2,106,153 | $1,133,478 | $975,360 | 46.3% | $77,717 |
| GLEN ROCK BORO | BERGEN | 2,461 | $2,406,511 | $1,189,374 | $1,111,263 | 46.2% | $91,993 |
| WAYNE | PASSAIC | 7,687 | $8,800,898 | $4,341,055 | $4,042,746 | 45.9% | $357,703 |
| PARAMUS | BERGEN | 3,780 | $4,460,541 | $2,201,085 | $2,048,461 | 45.9% | $181,810 |
| MEDFORD LAKES BORO | BURLINGTON | 534 | $2,495,531 | $1,357,350 | $1,144,817 | 45.9% | $102,949 |
| MONTVALE BORO | BERGEN | 978 | $1,121,275 | $551,671 | $513,778 | 45.8% | $46,860 |
| WATCHUNG BORO | SOMERSET | 674 | $947,467 | $466,925 | $433,186 | 45.7% | $40,548 |
| CLARK TWP | UNION | 2,176 | $2,380,199 | $1,259,293 | $1,080,129 | 45.4% | $109,971 |
| MENDHAM TWP | MORRIS | 646 | $968,863 | $473,046 | $438,495 | 45.3% | $45,937 |
| CRESSKILL BORO | BERGEN | 1,758 | $1,703,737 | $893,496 | $768,572 | 45.1% | $83,297 |
| RIVERDALE | MORRIS | 468 | $568,958 | $273,309 | $254,323 | 44.7% | $30,156 |
| FAIRFIELD TWP | ESSEX | 602 | $711,309 | $340,275 | $316,882 | 44.5% | $38,773 |
| MENDHAM BORO | MORRIS | 549 | $576,312 | $274,269 | $256,377 | 44.5% | $31,779 |
| BERKELEY HEIGHTS TWP | UNION | 2,229 | $2,691,317 | $1,286,187 | $1,197,251 | 44.5% | $148,408 |
| EAST GREENWICH TWP | GLOUCESTER | 1,319 | $7,821,477 | $4,097,686 | $3,475,969 | 44.4% | $434,770 |
| NORTHERN HIGHLANDS REG | BERGEN | 1,018 | $1,343,567 | $641,648 | $596,272 | 44.4% | $75,512 |
| BERNARDS TWP | SOMERSET | 5,639 | $7,347,611 | $3,807,175 | $3,255,276 | 44.3% | $418,530 |
| HO HO KUS BORO | BERGEN | 865 | $1,079,288 | $512,480 | $477,287 | 44.2% | $62,357 |
| CHATHAM | MORRIS | 4,067 | $4,540,429 | $2,148,455 | $2,003,490 | 44.1% | $266,725 |
| UPPER SADDLE RIVER BORO | BERGEN | 1,178 | $1,249,683 | $585,356 | $546,679 | 43.7% | $78,163 |
| VERONA | ESSEX | 2,129 | $2,138,098 | $1,065,176 | $916,688 | 42.9% | $152,361 |
| PISCATAWAY TWP | MIDDLESEX | 7,225 | $37,161,238 | $18,851,645 | $15,911,190 | 42.8% | $2,669,429 |
| OAKLAND BORO | BERGEN | 1,458 | $1,605,112 | $732,829 | $684,249 | 42.6% | $118,307 |
| CARLSTADT | BERGEN | 539 | $608,473 | $277,185 | $258,676 | 42.5% | $45,561 |
| WEST ESSEX REG. | ESSEX | 1,746 | $2,482,156 | $1,132,716 | $1,051,982 | 42.4% | $189,096 |
| WOOD-RIDGE BORO | BERGEN | 1,098 | $1,878,573 | $933,744 | $795,314 | 42.3% | $143,973 |
| GREEN BROOK TWP | SOMERSET | 1,330 | $2,271,909 | $1,031,946 | $955,660 | 42.1% | $180,295 |
| METUCHEN BORO | MIDDLESEX | 2,201 | $2,583,537 | $1,156,559 | $1,079,208 | 41.8% | $212,561 |
| WYCKOFF TWP | BERGEN | 2,041 | $2,177,590 | $968,191 | $905,141 | 41.6% | $183,654 |
| CLOSTER BORO | BERGEN | 1,083 | $1,079,337 | $478,239 | $447,865 | 41.5% | $91,804 |
| SUMMIT | UNION | 3,993 | $3,993,374 | $1,767,780 | $1,655,470 | 41.5% | $341,217 |
| CEDAR GROVE TWP | ESSEX | 1,649 | $1,887,888 | $833,038 | $777,638 | 41.2% | $166,306 |
| RAMAPO-INDIAN HILL REG | BERGEN | 2,323 | $3,109,222 | $1,376,243 | $1,280,379 | 41.2% | $274,232 |
| ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS | BERGEN | 584 | $732,541 | $323,368 | $301,245 | 41.1% | $65,026 |
| CLIFFSIDE PARK BORO | BERGEN | 2,535 | $8,914,644 | $4,324,697 | $3,665,603 | 41.1% | $791,719 |
| ALLENDALE BORO | BERGEN | 888 | $842,024 | $369,103 | $346,196 | 41.1% | $74,816 |
| TOTOWA BORO | PASSAIC | 1,036 | $1,138,369 | $539,312 | $463,900 | 40.8% | $105,285 |
| RUMSON BORO | MONMOUTH | 938 | $970,884 | $418,806 | $392,112 | 40.4% | $93,330 |
| RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN REG | MONMOUTH | 996 | $1,126,274 | $481,631 | $449,963 | 40.0% | $113,174 |
| RIVER VALE TWP | BERGEN | 1,162 | $1,205,495 | $511,737 | $479,330 | 39.8% | $123,418 |
| MONTVILLE TWP | MORRIS | 3,701 | $4,749,625 | $2,017,557 | $1,880,323 | 39.6% | $494,490 |
| MADISON BORO | MORRIS | 2,424 | $2,572,973 | $1,086,518 | $1,017,107 | 39.5% | $269,380 |
| NEW PROVIDENCE BORO | UNION | 2,362 | $2,424,468 | $1,100,852 | $949,023 | 39.1% | $263,211 |
| TENAFLY BORO | BERGEN | 3,585 | $3,689,413 | $1,540,625 | $1,443,845 | 39.1% | $400,862 |
| HADDONFIELD | CAMDEN | 2,561 | $2,467,412 | $1,111,040 | $959,687 | 38.9% | $274,019 |
| LIVINGSTON | ESSEX | 6,005 | $6,749,287 | $2,789,816 | $2,609,301 | 38.7% | $765,343 |
| SOMERSET HILLS REG. | SOMERSET | 1,751 | $2,331,966 | $964,821 | $898,906 | 38.5% | $267,077 |
| LITTLE SILVER BORO | MONMOUTH | 841 | $836,474 | $342,720 | $321,655 | 38.5% | $96,582 |
| MILLBURN | ESSEX | 4,904 | $5,320,620 | $2,179,960 | $2,041,217 | 38.4% | $619,093 |
| EDISON | MIDDLESEX | 14,758 | $37,051,030 | $16,537,782 | $14,035,490 | 37.9% | $4,490,025 |
| HASBROUCK HEIGHTS BORO (TETERBORO) | BERGEN | 8 | $9,052 | $3,976 | $3,421 | 37.8% | $1,105 |
| HACKENSACK | BERGEN | 5,421 | $34,391,618 | $15,379,392 | $12,963,674 | 37.7% | $4,232,135 |
| RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE | BERGEN | 5,538 | $5,840,214 | $2,342,127 | $2,196,000 | 37.6% | $724,107 |
| WATCHUNG HILLS REG. | SOMERSET | 1,752 | $2,640,122 | $1,067,241 | $992,398 | 37.6% | $327,663 |
| CALDWELL-WEST CALDWELL | ESSEX | 2,582 | $2,812,583 | $1,114,674 | $1,044,523 | 37.1% | $361,769 |
| MOUNTAINSIDE BORO | UNION | 1,037 | $1,369,401 | $541,600 | $505,408 | 36.9% | $179,293 |
| NORTH CALDWELL | ESSEX | 643 | $664,878 | $256,815 | $241,172 | 36.3% | $91,267 |
| SECAUCUS TOWN | HUDSON | 2,123 | $2,776,625 | $1,164,031 | $999,542 | 36.0% | $388,771 |
| HANOVER PARK REG. | MORRIS | 1,615 | $2,393,042 | $900,535 | $838,828 | 35.1% | $357,693 |
| BOONTON TOWN | MORRIS | 1,075 | $3,405,785 | $1,226,077 | $1,190,814 | 35.0% | $512,079 |
| GLEN RIDGE BORO | ESSEX | 1,852 | $2,273,846 | $834,230 | $780,892 | 34.3% | $356,031 |
| LYNDHURST TWP | BERGEN | 2,459 | $5,990,097 | $2,415,864 | $2,053,597 | 34.3% | $941,452 |
| ABSECON CITY | ATLANTIC | 903 | $4,506,560 | $1,821,870 | $1,541,266 | 34.2% | $712,014 |
| NORTHVALE BORO | BERGEN | 500 | $687,331 | $250,500 | $233,870 | 34.0% | $109,796 |
| MILLTOWN BORO | MIDDLESEX | 999 | $3,408,967 | $1,242,423 | $1,145,246 | 33.6% | $559,238 |
| MONROE TWP | MIDDLESEX | 6,252 | $8,458,051 | $3,031,037 | $2,832,178 | 33.5% | $1,396,848 |
| SADDLE RIVER | BERGEN | 386 | $646,633 | $231,007 | $214,881 | 33.2% | $108,436 |
| HARDING | MORRIS | 404 | $719,234 | $257,045 | $238,834 | 33.2% | $120,783 |
| CHERRY HILL | CAMDEN | 10,762 | $39,946,051 | $14,244,409 | $13,110,005 | 32.8% | $6,863,021 |
| NEW MILFORD BORO | BERGEN | 1,972 | $5,553,143 | $1,945,950 | $1,796,368 | 32.3% | $980,204 |
| HAWTHORNE BORO | PASSAIC | 2,325 | $6,657,404 | $2,249,645 | $2,077,172 | 31.2% | $1,251,530 |
| EMERSON BORO | BERGEN | 1,141 | $1,650,622 | $543,424 | $507,974 | 30.8% | $317,337 |
| ROCKAWAY BORO | MORRIS | 547 | $1,695,225 | $609,762 | $518,295 | 30.6% | $329,318 |
| FAIR LAWN | BERGEN | 4,717 | $12,320,401 | $3,696,921 | $3,423,378 | 27.8% | $2,736,823 |
| PASSAIC VALLEY REGIONAL | PASSAIC | 1,340 | $3,778,458 | $1,095,136 | $1,013,467 | 26.8% | $875,762 |
| SOUTH ORANGE-MAPLEWOOD | ESSEX | 7,168 | $17,322,480 | $4,637,840 | $4,307,567 | 24.9% | $4,353,673 |
| NORTH ARLINGTON BORO | BERGEN | 1,829 | $7,425,982 | $2,138,303 | $1,814,432 | 24.4% | $1,898,559 |
| ROCKLEIGH | BERGEN | 39 | $65,975 | $16,468 | $15,439 | 23.4% | $17,549 |
| WALDWICK BORO | BERGEN | 1,571 | $3,817,728 | $937,905 | $872,471 | 22.9% | $1,036,393 |
| RIVER DELL REGIONAL | BERGEN | 1,603 | $3,071,616 | $732,768 | $685,703 | 22.3% | $850,105 |
| ROBBINSVILLE TWP | MERCER | 3,013 | $11,389,305 | $2,924,471 | $2,491,756 | 21.9% | $3,202,897 |
| WOODLAND PARK | PASSAIC | 1,090 | $3,932,665 | $1,000,936 | $854,297 | 21.7% | $1,112,036 |
| WEST ORANGE | ESSEX | 6,790 | $32,795,554 | $7,645,580 | $7,047,683 | 21.5% | $9,350,094 |
| CLINTON TOWN | HUNTERDON | 315 | $1,094,767 | $195,668 | $221,469 | 20.2% | $325,915 |
| HASBROUCK HEIGHTS | BERGEN | 1,907 | $7,316,053 | $1,368,079 | $1,168,983 | 16.0% | $2,489,044 |
| RIVER EDGE | BERGEN | 1,140 | $3,798,478 | $564,761 | $486,938 | 12.8% | $1,412,301 |
| Total | $70,360,941 |
Bad Aid Proposals Surface
I hope that the above proposal circulates as alternatives to some bad aid proposals that have surfaced in the last few weeks by legislators who want to help their constituents' underaided districts but ignore underaided districts elsewhere, even severely underaided ones.
The first bad proposal is from Mila Jasey/John McKeon (Ds, Essex & Morris) proposal that would give $122 million to school districts whose Equalized taxes are 35% above the state's average.
The problem here is that virtually no underaided districts that are K-8 or 9-12 would qualify for this aid. These means that NJ's most exceptionally underaided districts, such as Freehold Boro, Fairview, and East Newark wouldn't get a cent. Numerous severely underaided K-12s would be excluded too, such as Clifton, Lakewood, Bloomfield, and Bayonne.
Another bad proposal is from Rob Clifton and Ron Dancer (Rs, Burlington, Monmouth, Middlesex, Ocean), who represent Chesterfield, NJ's most underaided district in percentage terms.
Chesterfield's underaiding is partly due to huge population growth, so the proposal would give $30 million to districts whose populations have grown more than 25% since 2008.
The problem is that so many underaided districts haven't had serious population growth. They may be underaided because they've always been underaided or they've lost property wealth. So, the Dancer/Clifton bill also excludes numerous severely underaided and underfunded districts, such as Manchester Regional, Freehold Boro, Fairview etc.
Any state aid reform has to be morally viable to be politically viable. If a state aid reform doesn't have a broad benefit, and truly does benefit the neediest districts I see it going nowhere, especially if the proposal is paid for by redistribution. If the beneficiaries aren't the neediest in New Jersey, the moral claims that might induce aid hoarders to give up some aid will not work.
But to help New Jersey's neediest districts isn't impossible even in New Jersey's terrible budget situation. A modest combination of new revenue and redistribution would be enough to create opportunity for kids and districts who have up until now been denied it.
Any state aid reform has to be morally viable to be politically viable. If a state aid reform doesn't have a broad benefit, and truly does benefit the neediest districts I see it going nowhere, especially if the proposal is paid for by redistribution. If the beneficiaries aren't the neediest in New Jersey, the moral claims that might induce aid hoarders to give up some aid will not work.
But to help New Jersey's neediest districts isn't impossible even in New Jersey's terrible budget situation. A modest combination of new revenue and redistribution would be enough to create opportunity for kids and districts who have up until now been denied it.
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