The proposal seems like a deal for some school districts — but is there a caveat?
UNION COUNTY -- When Gov. Chris Christie revealed his "Fairness Formula" education plan that would allocate $6,559 per student in every school district, Rahway Superintendent Patricia Camp learned her school district would get an 18 percent increase in school funding.
But Camp is reluctant to accept the numbers at face value.
"So Christie's proposal would get us an additional $4 to $5 million in state aid," Camp said. "But how much of that would we get to use for the students versus having to give back for property taxes? The devil's in the details, as always."
Under Christie's plan, 75 percent of school districts would get an increase in state aid and relieve the property tax burden from local residents. The plan would reduce aid in urban areas and increase aid in several suburban towns.
Christie noted in his announcement that low graduation rates in districts like Asbury Park, New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden, which all have graduation rates in the low-to-high 60 percentile compared to the state's 90 percent graduation rate, and said increased funding was not helpful.
Thirty-seven districts would see their funding cut by more than 50 percent, under Christie's plan.
In a radio call-in show on NJ 101.5 recently, Christie said he thought there would be school closings in urban areas based on the new formula.
Rahway already receives about $4 million less in state aid than it should under the current funding formula, Camp said.
The new education formula would seemingly make up for the budget gap -- but Camp isn't so sure.
"If we could get the state aid and we could hold the line then on property taxes, then OK," she said. "But I would just need a lot more information on this."
Camp also questioned why the Christie administration wants to switch to a new education formula.
"They are 40-something different districts in the state that are already getting more state aid than they should by the current state funding formula," she said. "And under Christie's proposal, there's quite a few that will get even more state aid."
Hillsborough would get an 86 percent increase in state aid, Camp said.
"So they're not exactly being efficient with their money," Camp said. "There's quite a lot of districts like that."
Westfield, for example, would receive a 1,243 percent increase in state funding, according to a NJ Advance Media analysis.
Republicans pledge support for Fairness Formula
The Westfield Public School district currently receives $484.12 per pupil from the state, said Margaret Dolan, Westfield superintendent.
"I would welcome additional state funding under a balanced plan that would provide quality education to all students throughout New Jersey -- one in which tax relief is attainable for suburban taxpayers and urban school children receive the support needed to succeed," Dolan said in a statement.
Following Christie's announcement, state Republican lawmakers said they would back the governor's proposal.
Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean (R-Union) and Sen. Michael Doherty (R-Warren) said they would both co-sponsor the plan.
"When some districts continue to fail decade after decade, it's clear that money is not the answer," Doherty said.
Katie Park may be reached at kpark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @kathspark. Find NJ.com on Facebook.