Brick, NJ – Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis showed his support of the Brick Township Public School District by attending a rally at the New Jersey Statehouse to protest New Jersey’s school funding formula yesterday.  Before the rally, Mayor Acropolis attended a briefing on cuts in municipal state aid that featured Governor Jon Corzine.

“I went to Trenton to support our schools and help them tell our legislators that something needs to change.  The state’s formula for distributing school funding is unfair to communities like Brick Township,” said Mayor Acropolis.  “Our schools’ operating costs are increasing every year, yet our State aid is going up only 2 percent.  We are already on the verge of closing schools.  What is next?”

Mayor Acropolis notes that the increase in State Aid for the schools for 2008 is $780,838.  That is approximately only 6/10 of 1% of last year’s school budget.

Mayor Acropolis attended the event with Business Administrator Scott Pezarras and Administration Deputy Department Head Juan Bellu.

“I was pleased to see young people getting involved today,” said Mayor Acropolis.  “There voices need to be heard as they are the ones who are bearing the brunt of the State’s decisions.  It’s their education that is being impacted.”

Before the rally, Mayor Acropolis attended a seminar on state aid cuts for municipalities.  Brick Township stands to see a reduction of nearly $700,000 in State Aid from last year’s level.

“Municipalities throughout the State are facing similar budget problems,” said Mayor Acropolis.  “We are facing increasing non-discretionary costs and cuts in State aid.  Many of these increasing costs are because of obligations created by State agencies.  Combine these issues with spending and tax levy caps, and towns are having a difficult time making the numbers work.”

Mayor Acropolis cites storm water management regulations imposed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection as an example of increasing mandated costs.  “State agencies come up with programs and tell towns they have to comply, but do not help us pay for them,” said Mayor Acropolis.  “In fact, they give us less money and make us pass the burden on to our taxpayers.”

“This is about obligations.  We are working hard to run our Township in a fiscally responsible way and the Board of Education is doing the same,” said Mayor Acropolis.  “That is made harder when the State chooses not to fulfill its obligations.  Unfortunately, the people who are going to pay are the taxpayers of Brick.”

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