South Brunswick was hit hard this week when it found out how much state aid it would receive. The township introduced a budget last week that is about $1.5 million less than last year’s but calls for a tax increase because of a $164,580 cut in aid.
Under the new rate, the owner of a home assessed at the township average can expect to pay almost $1,300 in municipal purpose taxes.
The township shouldn’t be surprised with the decreased state aid, especially given the $1 billion-plus deficit the state is facing. We just hope that the township approaches the rest of the budget season with an eye toward what impact its plans will have on taxpayers, the same people who are underemployed, unemployed, overworked and overstressed and for the most part worse off than they were in the fall, when the economy first began to tank. It will be difficult.
When the school district introduced its budget this week, it called for the elimination of 25 positions, 13 through attrition and retirement, even though the district is to receive a 5 percent increase in state aid.
The cuts are an unfortunate evil, but may be what students and residents will have to live with. We hope the township doesn’t have to do the same.

