Federal impact aid is the compensation for school districts in communities where federal lands or facilities exist. Aid is provided since such lands and facilities are exempt from local proper
By James McEvoy, Managing Editor
PLUMSTED — The Plumsted Township Committee unanimously approved a resolution June 5 to support legislation designed to safeguard federal impact aid.
Federal impact aid is the compensation for school districts in communities where federal lands or facilities exist. Aid is provided since such lands and facilities are exempt from local property taxes.
Assemblyman Ron Dancer, who also serves as township business administrator, noted that the legislation he introduced last month would benefit Plumsted.
Mr. Dancer noted 20-square-miles, or roughly half of Plumsted is in the Fort Dix military installation.
The legislation, A-4084, would create a federal impact reserve account and safeguard the funds from being seized from the state, which has occurred previously. He explained the state did so by reducing aid by the amount of money a district has in excess surplus.
According to budget documents, the Plumsted Township School District received $861,975 in federal impact aid in the 2011 fiscal year.
In addition to safeguarding funds, Mr. Dancer told the committee the measure, if passed, would also likely encourage the federal government to prioritizing aid to New Jersey as opposed to other states without such a reserve.
Committeeman Herb Marinari, a longtime former Plumsted Township Board of Education member and president, thanked Mr. Dancer for the legislation.
”I as a former school board member thank you very much for this,” Mr. Marinari told Mr. Dancer. “This is something extremely, extremely important in today’s economy to help our taxpayers. Hopefully it moves through.”
Upon introduction last month, the measure was referred to the Assembly Education Committee.