State Aid Increases by $1 in Montville

Some say something's better than nothing.

Montville Township Public Schools will see state aid increased in 2013-14 by a single dollar over the current year, according to figures presented by Gov. Chris Christie Thursday.

While Montville received $1,755,582 in state aid in the 2012-13 year, the district will receive $1,755,583 in 2013-14. The state Department of Education has Montville recorded as receiving a zero percent increase year-over-year.

The state Department of Education boasted that the 2013-14 aid package is the largest ever released by the state. Nearly $9 billion will go to public schools, an increase of about $97.3 million from the 2012-13 school year.

While the majority of districts in the state, including in neighboring towns, saw aid stay flat, many districts in Morris County will see an increase in aid this year, including Lincoln Park, Dover and the largest increase in the county, 17.7 percent, for the Morris Hills Regional School District. The districts receiving an increase will average a gain of $75 per pupil.

"Throughout my time in office I have continuously argued that in order to grow New Jersey's economy we must invest in education, and my proposed budget is a reflection of my commitment to our educational system and communities across the state," said Christie. "However, even as we continue to fund education at the highest levels in state history, we must remain willing to reflect on how we are spending our money and work towards solutions that make every dollar we invest count."

Special education is one area broken out in the explanation of aid. Montville will receive $1,469,587 in aid specifically for special education.