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Board member says S418 would target state aid to districts constrained by Highlands protections
Summary
At the Washington Township School District board meeting, a trustee said they testified June 1 before the New Jersey Senate Education Committee in support of S418, arguing that Highlands preservation restrictions have sharply limited the district’s local tax base and that S418 would direct additional state aid to affected districts.
A board member told the Washington Township School District board that they testified June 1 before the New Jersey State Senate Education Committee in support of S418, the "fairness for school districts and development restricted areas act." The trustee said the bill would provide additional state aid to districts that have experienced net losses under prior school funding changes and are located in municipalities affected by Highlands preservation restrictions.
The board member said Washington Township is “significantly impacted,” noting that about 87% of the township’s roughly 26,700 acres—more than 23,000 acres—are subject to Highlands preservation restrictions, which limit local opportunities for growth and the municipal tax base. "I testified before the New Jersey state senate education committee in support of S418," the trustee said, urging continued monitoring of the bill as it moves through the legislative process.
Why it matters: Board members said the Highlands protections provide important statewide environmental benefits while also constraining development that could expand the local tax base. The speaker framed S418 as a way to align state aid with the financial realities of districts that cannot expand their local revenue through development.
Details from the board: The trustee described the board’s broader legislative advocacy work, saying the district had prepared a funding analysis that identifies areas where the current state funding formula may not reflect actual educational costs. The legislative advocacy committee plans to share its findings with legislative representatives and statewide advocacy organizations and to continue monitoring S418 and related proposals.
What wasn’t resolved: The board did not vote on S418; the testimony described in the meeting is the trustee’s report of advocacy activity. The transcript records a reference to district revenue loss under prior funding changes but does not provide a precise dollar amount for that loss (amount not specified in the transcript).
Next steps: The board said it will continue to monitor the bill and the advocacy committee will share its analysis with lawmakers and stakeholders as the legislative process continues.
