By Christine Barcia
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD – The proposed state budget for fiscal year 2017 includes an increase in funding for the Freehold Borough K-8 School District.
“We are relieved to see at least this nominal easing of our overall under-adequacy shortfall in state aid. These funds will avoid harmful degradations to our educational programs. We will continue to work closely with our legislators and Department of Education leaders to secure the district’s proper fair share of state aid,” Superintendent of Schools Rocco Tomazic said.
For the 2016-17 school year, the school district will receive an additional $100,770 over the current year’s funding. The total state aid for the 2015-16 school year was $9.64 million and the total state aid for the 2016-17 school year will be $9.74 million, according to information provided by the superintendent.
“We expect to have more to say on the details of next year’s spending plan as we work with the board in the weeks and months ahead to develop the tentative and final budget submission for 2016-17,” Tomazic said.
State Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth), whose legislative district includes Freehold Borough, said the additional funding in the upcoming academic year will help the school district “close the gap.”
“This is a solid first step to address the needs of students in school districts that have been flat-funded as their enrollments have exploded,” Beck said.
Gov. Chris Christie unveiled his proposed $34.8 billion budget for fiscal year 2017 on Feb. 16.
