Garden State Times

Senator Latham Tiver has announced his support for new legislation aimed at restoring funding for school districts affected by state aid reductions from fiscal year 2018 to 2025. The legislation will be introduced by Senator Declan O’Scanlon and seeks to remove the existing 6% cap on funding increases for the fiscal year 2026.

Senator Tiver criticized the current cap, stating, “The 6% cap on school aid increases imposed by the Governor is a misguided policy that unfairly limits the resources our schools need to thrive.” He emphasized that several districts, including Evesham, have not received adequate funding increases due to this restriction.

The proposed legislation would ensure full restoration of funds for districts that have previously experienced net losses in state aid under legislation S-2, aiming to provide equitable educational opportunities for all students. According to the Governor’s proposed budget for FY 2026, Evesham's state aid is set to increase by $400,000, bringing the total to approximately $7.2 million. With the proposed bill, Evesham could see an additional $1.3 million in aid, potentially raising the total to about $8.5 million.