State aid cuts likely for Sussex County school districts

State aid cuts have been proposed for most school districts in Sussex County, Commissioner Dawn Fantasia reported at the Board of County Commissioners meeting March 8.

In his proposed $53.1 billion budget introduced Feb. 28, Gov. Phil Murphy provided an additional $830 million in state aid for education.

Increases are planned for more than 400 districts, but 157 would lose state aid, with aid remaining flat or rising less than the inflation rate for others.

“Overwhelming, red school districts lost more,” Fantasia said.

The Newark school district would receive the largest increase, $114 million, while state aid to Jersey City was cut by $50 million. The largest percentage increases would go to Woodland Park, South Plainfield, Ridgefield, Edison and Cliffside Park, according to an analysis by NJ Spotlight News.

Overall, Sussex County districts would receive about $6.5 million, or 7.5 percent, less in state aid than a year earlier. That is the largest decrease for any county except Cape May, where total state aid would fall 8.9 percent.

Other counties with overall decreases are Hudson, Hunterdon, Monmouth and Ocean.

The total state aid to Sussex County districts with grades K-12 for fiscal year 2023 would be about $80.7 million.

In addition, Murphy proposed cutting aid in open space and PILOT aid by a third, from $9 million to $6 million, Fantasia said. Small rural communities were given payments in lieu of taxes to offset the impact of properties dedicated to open space under that program.

Library use up

Commissioner William Hayden shared a report from library director Will Porter about increased use of the libraries in the past year when the full schedule was restored after the pandemic.

More than 500,000 physical items were checked out in 2022 in addition to 132,000 e-books and audiobooks downloaded. The libraries attracted visits from 227,000 people, and more than 11,000 people attended programs, such as story times, concerts and educational programs.

The libraries recently added wireless printing services, which can be paid for with a credit card, he added.

The Sussex County Division of Social Services was named Agency of the Year for 2022 at the 41st annual Child Support Conference held in February, Commissioner Jill Space said. The award recognizes the achievements of the division’s child support unit.

Health-plan problem

Representatives of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and Brown & Brown described problems that some retired employees have had with the new plan that was effective July 1, 2022.

According to a letter sent to retirees in December, the companies discovered that they were overpaying providers and members for their health-plan deductible.

Until the problem was fixed, retirees were told to submit a claim for the 20 percent that the insurers would pay, then receive a check.

That is no longer necessary, the representatives said.

About 30 retirees attended the meeting to ask questions about whether their claims were paid.

The insurance company representatives promised to meet with any retirees who have questions about their claims.

New speed limit

The board approved an ordinance revising the speed limit on Route 622 in Stillwater, Hampton, Fredon and Newton.

It also approved resolutions:

• Appointing Lisa Chammings to the Agriculture Development Board for a three-year term.

• Appointing Alan Henderson as a second alternate to the Sussex County Planning Board for a three-year term.

• To purchase from Tony Sanchez Ltd. a 2024 Tandem Axle Dump Truck, Snow Plow and Salt Spreader for $128,183.

• To purchase a wood chipper from Northeastern Arborist Supply for the county Department of Engineering for $78,536.

• To purchase from McGrath Municipal Equipment a Falcon 4 Ton Asphalt Hot Patcher Dump Trailer for $50,145.