Washington Township says current funding formula is ‘crippling suburban communities with the taxes.’
By: Rebecca Weltmann
WASHINGTON The Township Council and Board of Education have filed a joint federal lawsuit against the state over what they claim is a "discriminatory" school funding formula.
The council and board held a joint meeting Tuesday, and voted unanimously to approve a resolution endorsing the lawsuit. Board attorney Matthew Giacobbe filed the suit electronically at 8 a.m. Wednesday with the U.S. District Court in Trenton.
In addition, four individually represented township residents elected to join the fight and file with the council and board.
The suit was filed against the New Jersey Board of Education and state Education Commissioner Lucille Davy. The resolution approved Tuesday directed those filing the suit to "pursue any and all claims to insure Constitutional application of the Comprehensive Education Improvement and Financing Act."
The school district’s core curriculum aid has been frozen at $2.2 million since 2002, with only a 3 percent increase in state aid for the 2007-08 school year. This lack of funding has cost the schools and township approximately $12 million since 2002, said Mr. Giacobbe.
"The board and council are declaring the actions of the state Board of Education unconstitutional," said Mr. Giacobbe. "This is the first case, that I’m aware of, filed on a federal court level. It’s a tough case to prevail on, but drastic times call for drastic measures. We’re hoping to shed light and notice on a problem that our Legislature doesn’t think they have time to deal with. They don’t seem to realize that they are crippling suburban communities with the taxes."
John Zlock, state Department of Education spokesman, declined to comment on the lawsuit, but said the amount of state aid that the school district received is based on the wealth factor of the township.
For complete coverage of the issue, see the March 8 edition of The Messenger-Press.

