The Jersey City Board of Education made an unexpected, expedited move to pass a $736 million budget for the 2020-2021 scholastic year that will come with a roughly $53 million tax levy hike, a sizable increase for a district trying to make up for years of state cutbacks.
By Corey McDonald/Hudson County View
In other words, the nearly three-quarters of a billion dollar budget includes a school tax levy increase of 39 percent for the 2020-2021 calendar year.
For a Jersey City home assessed at $452,000, the school tax increase equates to a monthly increase of about $46, Jersey City BOE Business Administrator Regina Robinson said during the meeting.
The board was not originally expected to pass the budget Monday night, and was slated for a final vote on Wednesday. However, Trustees Gina Verdibello and Lekendrick Shaw made a motion to adopt the budget and everyone agreed (9-0) on the district’s spending plan.
“I want to thank all of the board members for getting us through this process,” Board President Lorenzo Richardson said at the meeting, which was hosted on Zoom.
“I’m very pleased by how we all came together and made this happen.”
More than two hours of the meeting consisted of parents and residents calling in to express support for the budget.
“I know many of you have concerns about the impact of this budget on property owners, but I want you to remember that your elected fiduciary responsibility is not to the property owners – that is the responsibility of the city council and the mayor,” stated Josephine Douglas-Paige.
“Your responsibility is to achieve the state’s required educational goals”
The budget’s approval is a win for advocates who have been pushing for tax increases within the district despite the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is a historic win for Jersey City’s children & the city as a whole. After more than a decade of underfunding, Superintendent Walker’s budget takes a significant step in the right direction,” said Brigid D’Souza, a parent of two students at Public School No. 3 and a leader with Jersey City Together.
“It represents real, local investment in our city’s students and schools. Thank you to the Board Trustees & to district leadership for the courage and vision to make this happen.”
The BOE gave initial approval for the budget back on March 20th.
Revisions made to the state school funding formula in 2018 resulted in a phase out of millions of state aid given to the district.
Additionally, Jersey City lost $175 million in state aid for 2019 and is expected to see similar cuts over the next several years.
Follow Corey McDonald on Twitter @cwmcdonald_
As a homeowner in Jersey City I think this is a disgrace to put this kind of extra stress on us in this time of crisis . I’m sure another lower budget could have been put forth .i don’t know how you think people who are struggling now without jobs or money can afford this. Have you no compassion for what we are going through . I think this budget should be rethought or put off till the City gets back on there feet . Other cities are not raising the taxes so why are you?