TRENTON, N.J. — In a recent Assembly Education Committee meeting, Assemblyman Erik Simonsen voiced his support for legislative measures aimed at providing immediate financial relief to school districts facing state aid reductions.
While expressing a preference for a comprehensive overhaul of the current school funding formula, Simonsen endorsed bills designed to mitigate the impact of aid cuts in the short term. One bill extends the deadline for affected districts to submit their budgets (A4059), and another proposes restoring two-thirds of a school district’s planned cuts through a grant program (A4161), with Simonsen listed as a cosponsor of both.
Simonsen, an educator and school administrator, criticized the existing funding model for creating disparities among districts. He emphasized the urgency of supporting those districts severely impacted by the implementation of S2, a 2018 reform that has led to unpredictable funding cuts for certain “overfunded” districts.
The assemblyman highlighted the challenges faced by districts in Atlantic and Cape May counties and stressed the need for a unified effort to overhaul S2. He referenced Republican Leader John DiMaio’s proposal, the “Fully Funding Schools and Cutting Property Taxes Act” (A1125), which aims to align school funding more closely with district needs and reduce property tax burdens by matching increases in state aid with property tax reductions.
Simonsen’s remarks underscore the broader issue of New Jersey’s reliance on property values rather than income for determining school district funding, which he argues disproportionately burdens taxpayers. The proposed Republican funding plan suggests a significant increase in state aid for districts and a corresponding decrease in property taxes, reflecting a strategic shift towards a more equitable funding approach.
The assemblyman calls for a comprehensive reevaluation of school funding to prioritize educational quality and financial fairness, indicating a readiness to address the long-standing issues within New Jersey’s public school system.