Monroe should receive $1.34 M
in extra school aid from state
By nicole c. vaccaro
Staff Writer
MONROE — Because of its large senior citizen population, the township will be awarded $1.34 million in state property tax stabilization aid this year.
Last week, the Assembly announced it will take action on this measure, passed by the Senate last March, which would result in an infusion of additional state school aid for 16 school districts with disproportionate numbers of seniors.
"The property taxpayers in these [16 school districts] have been waiting for action on this for some time," said Senate President Donald T. DiFrancesco. "I am very happy to hear that the Assembly has decided to move forward and provide the stabilization aid to seniors who are awaiting help to combat the pressures of rising education costs."
The Senate approved the measure on March 27 by a vote of 28-1.
DiFrancesco added that prior to the Senate vote, he spent a good deal of time working with members of boards of education from around the state.
"I know that this assistance is very important to the people living in Monroe," he said.
In fact, Monroe will see the most significant increase in aid under the revised legislation, almost more than the other districts combined.
Thus far, that list of districts is expected to include Stone Harbor, Longport, Mantoloking, Rockleigh, Long Beach, Southampton, Barnegat Light, Walpack, Surf City and Lavallette.
Manchester, Berkeley Township and Cape May Point already receive stabilization aid under current legislation.
Any technical amendments made to the measure in Assembly committee will require further consideration by the full Senate before the measure can be sent to Gov. Whitman.
"As soon as the Assembly takes action on the bill, I am committed to concurring with changes at the next available Senate session, and getting the bill before the governor as quickly as possible," concluded DiFrancesco.

