Understanding State Aid and Why It Matters for Our Upcoming Referendum

Lawrence Township Public Schools is preparing for a significant referendum that will impact the future of our district. One critical aspect of this referendum is the opportunity to maximize state aid, a valuable source of funding that directly supports our schools. But what exactly is state aid, and why is passing the referendum so important?

Let's break it down.

What is State Aid?

State aid is funding provided by the New Jersey government to support public school districts. These funds are allocated to help districts like ours cover the costs of important initiatives, capital projects, and educational improvements. For Lawrence Township Public Schools, state aid is crucial because it helps lessen the financial burden on local taxpayers while ensuring our students continue to receive high-quality education in safe, well-maintained facilities. For Lawrence Township Public Schools, this funding could be a game-changer, helping to pay for key improvements.

Why is the Referendum Important?

In our upcoming referendum, Lawrence Township Public Schools will be asking the community to approve funding for key projects designed to improve the educational framework in our schools. These projects range from much-needed facility renovations to adding a sixth grade wing to our middle school.  Here’s where state aid comes in: if the referendum is approved, the district will be eligible to receive a significant portion of the funding from the state (up to 40% on important renovation projects) in the form of state aid.

However, if the referendum doesn't pass, we miss out on this aid. In that case, all the funds we contribute to the state aid "pot" will go to other districts that pass their referendums. For example, neighboring school districts with referendums this year will receive state aid if their referendums pass.  If their referendums pass and ours doesn’t, Lawrence taxpayers’ contributions will help fund projects in other communities, while our district will have to shoulder the full cost of improvements on our own—without any state help.

Lawrence as a "Net Giver"

It’s important to understand that Lawrence is a “net giver” in the state aid system. This means our community consistently contributes more money into the state’s education funding pool than we typically receive back. The only way to ensure that our district gets some of the money we contribute is by passing our referendum. Otherwise, those dollars will benefit other districts, leaving us paying into a system that doesn’t give back to our own schools.

The Bottom Line: Don't Leave Money on the Table

If we don't act now, Lawrence will be left behind while neighboring districts move forward with improvements, funded in part by state aid that could have helped us too. Passing this referendum  ensures we get our fair share of funding, supports our schools, and helps protect local taxpayers from bearing the full cost of necessary renovations.

This referendum is a chance to invest in the future of Lawrence. The opportunity for state aid is too important to pass up. Don't leave money on the table.