School districts in Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties will get the most state aid under Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s proposed $60.7-billion state budget.
They are Camden ($392 million), Monroe Township ($66.7 million), Winslow Township ($60.2 million), Gloucester City ($45.5 million) and Washington Township ($44.1 million).
As two of the state’s 31 Abbott districts with high poverty rates, Camden and Gloucester City get more state aid by percentage than other districts to fund their full-day preschool programs for 3- and 4-year olds, build new schools, renovate old ones and provide programs for at-risk students.
Overall, 22% of the proposed state budget – about $13.8 billion – will be distributed to districts as pre K-12 educational aid, which supplements property taxes already paid by residents to finance education.
As for other districts, Deptford will receive $35.5 million in state aid; Delran, $31.7 million; Cherry Hill, $27.7 million; Cinnaminson, $21.6 million; and the Lenape Regional High School District, $19.4 million.
Cherry Hill’s aid was cut by nearly $860,000, leaving its board of education with tough decisions to close a $14.5-million shortfall in its proposed 2026-’27 budget. Beside the state’s 3% in cuts, the district also faces rising costs for transportation, employee health care and special education costs.
“We will feel the impact of these cuts,” said its business administrator, Jason Schimpf, during the board’s March 19 meeting. “They will bring some pain.”
The Haddonfield school district faces a $1.56-million deficit; it got a $49,000 increase in state aid, for a total of $3.35 million. District officials said the reasons for the shortfall include the increased cost of health benefits for teachers and staff of $1.8 million, the cost of full-day kindergarten and a $600,000 increase in salaries.
The Berlin Borough school district will receive $6.51 million in state aid, a loss of $83,400. Berlin Township will see $398,000 more, for a total of $8.06 million.
The Eastern Camden County Regional High School District faces a decrease of $277,000 in state aid; it will receive a total of $8.96 million. Voorhees will see an increase of $5,800, for a total of $5.255 million. The Mantua district will get $260,000 more in state aid, $4.77 million overall.
As for Burlington County districts, Palmyra will see a $225,000 increase in state aid for a total of $8.81 million, while Evesham Township will see $7.5 million, an increase of $400,000. Mount Laurel’s aid was increased by $500,000, for a total of $8.5 million.
The Shamong school district will receive $2.11 million in aid, a decrease of $65,000, while Tabernacle will see an increase of $137,000, for a total of $2.42 million. The Medford school district will get $5.2 million in state aid, an increase of $300,000.
The Lenape Regional High School District – which includes Cherokee, Lenape, Seneca and Shawnee high schools – will see an increase of $1.1 million in state aid, for a total of $19.4 million. The four schools serve students from Marlton, Evesham, Medford, Medford Lakes, Mount Laurel, Shamong, Southampton, Tabernacle and Woodland.
The cost of public education continues to rise, and school district officials have tough decisions facing them, including raising property taxes, laying off teachers and staff and cutting programs.
The state aid figures for all districts will be discussed and amended by the state senate and assembly before going back to the governor for final approval.
