NJ Gov. Chris Christie said today he will change the state’s school funding formula in the budget he presents next month. Christie, who commented on the funding formula at a town hall meeting, said the current formula is part of a “failed experiment” that provides more state aid to a small number of districts.
“We’re working on the state’s school funding formula,” Christie said. “We’re going to come out with something that is going to be a little different in our budget this year.”
Christie said it’s part of his fight to change the way funds are given from the state.
“The state’s funding formula has been rigged so nearly 60 percent of all the state aid goes to 31 school districts,” Christie said. “It’s crazy.”
Christie went on to say that his fight with Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) to change the make up of the state Supreme Court is also part of his effort to change the way schools are funded.
Christie told the town hall attendees that his efforts to replace former Supreme Court Justice John Wallace Jr. with attorney Anne Patterson is part of his fight to change the funding formula. He encouraged those complaining about school funding to call Sweeney and tell him to give Patterson a vote.
“I’m trying to change the bench,” Christie said when asked again what he could do to fix schools.
{Star Ledger/Matzav.com}
