To the editor:
When Governor Phil Murphy and his fellow Democrats talk about a “fairer and stronger” New Jersey, they seem to have forgotten, ignored and/or excluded Hillsborough. Of all the school districts in Somerset County, Hillsborough is the only one to have its 2018-19 state aid for schools decreased.
It gets worse. Over the next six years, Hillsborough’s state aid for schools is projected to decrease $5.5 million dollars, which will significantly drive up our property taxes. Many people do not realize that approximately 70 percent of our property taxes are for schools. The municipal and county portions of our property taxes are low, especially when compared to other towns and counties. Our school taxes are high because state aid for our schools is so low. This is despite the fact that, year after year, Hillsborough citizens send much more to Trenton than we get back.
While the Democrats running for local office run from this issue, the Republicans running for township committee understand this and have pledged to work in earnest to correct it. For this reason and more, I am voting for Shawn Lipani and Ron Skobo for township committee on Election Day.
Steven A. Cohen
Hillsborough
