State Aid Remains Flat to Brick Township, School District

State aid to both the municipal government as well as the Brick Township school district will remain flat this year, figures released by the state this week said.

The township will receive $5,387,064 from the state government, the same amount it received last year.

The school district will receive $35,754,648, also the same amount as last year.

"We're still down probably close to four of five million dollars total," on the municipal side, since state aid was cut to municipalities during the administration of former Gov. Jon Corzine several years ago, said Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis.

Acropolis – one of the state's mayors who has most vocally opposed the state government's policy of keeping a large share of the energy receipts tax that was designed to go to municipalities – said Gov. Chris Christie had a "tough call" this year.

"Just because there was a hurricane doesn't mean there's more money in Trenton," he said. "I didn't expect an increase in aid. We're hoping the federal government comes through."

The municipal government and school district are separate entities whose budgets – as well as the state aid allocated to each – are not related.

The Board of Education, which controls the school budget, released a tentative budget last week that calls for no increase in taxes.

On the municipal side, officials have said the budget is still being formulated. In Brick's form of municipal government, the administration – the mayor – presents a budget to the township council. The council can then increase or decrease the proposed budget as it sees fit, and is tasked with approving a final budget after a public hearing.