Plan to lower NJ property taxes could include merging school districts

<p>Most New Jersey residents may say that high property taxes are their No. 1 complaint about living in the state.</p>

News 12 Staff

Aug 14, 2018, 1:24 AM

Updated 2,099 days ago

Share:

Most New Jersey residents may say that high property taxes are their No. 1 complaint about living in the state.
Senate President Steve Sweeney last week released a list of 30 potential ideas to help fix the state’s fiscal woes — among them, merging 600 school districts.
New Jersey has 678 school districts as of the 2016-2017 school year. Some of these districts, like Oradell, only have one single school. Yet they have a full school board with a superintendent and board members.
Sweeney says that merging some of these districts could help save on property taxes. But some New Jersey residents say that while they wish taxes were lower, they like having their own district.
“I think it makes the community closer…instead of everybody being dispersed into different schools,” says parent Christine Morgner.
Sweeney’s proposal still has a while to go before it could be enacted. Other options in the proposal include converting public worker pension systems to a 401(k)-style plan, reducing health benefits and eliminating large sick time payouts for retiring workers.


More from News 12
Car flips off Garden State Parkway in Elmwood Park, narrowly misses hitting a house; 1 seriously injured

Car flips off Garden State Parkway in Elmwood Park, narrowly misses hitting a house; 1 seriously injured

2:28
Reports of shots fired in Newark neighborhood

Reports of shots fired in Newark neighborhood

1:58
Mostly sunny today with highs near 70 in New Jersey; rain returns Tuesday

Mostly sunny today with highs near 70 in New Jersey; rain returns Tuesday

Jury selection to begin in the corruption trial of Sen. Bob Menendez

Jury selection to begin in the corruption trial of Sen. Bob Menendez

2:32
‘You hurt a family.’ Kane In Your Corner reveals animal rescue concerns about Pixies and Paws

‘You hurt a family.’ Kane In Your Corner reveals animal rescue concerns about Pixies and Paws

0:17
Prosecutors: Paterson man accused of murder surrenders himself

Prosecutors: Paterson man accused of murder surrenders himself

1:39
Multiple Bloomfield police cars totaled following Newark crash

Multiple Bloomfield police cars totaled following Newark crash

0:20
Police: 3 firefighters injured in Trenton house fire

Police: 3 firefighters injured in Trenton house fire

1:55
Made In New Jersey: How this Plainfield native created her business TinkyPoo diapers

Made In New Jersey: How this Plainfield native created her business TinkyPoo diapers

0:28
Little Falls native Chris Gotterup wins Myrtle Beach Classic for 1st PGA Tour title

Little Falls native Chris Gotterup wins Myrtle Beach Classic for 1st PGA Tour title

0:36
Spending time outdoors? Here are 20 tips to prevent tick bites.

Spending time outdoors? Here are 20 tips to prevent tick bites.

2:38
Rutgers University students brave the rain for Class of 2024 graduation ceremony

Rutgers University students brave the rain for Class of 2024 graduation ceremony

0:30
Haliburton, Pacers take advantage of short-handed Knicks to even series with 121-89 rout in Game 4

Haliburton, Pacers take advantage of short-handed Knicks to even series with 121-89 rout in Game 4

1:49
New Jersey families celebrate the women in their lives on Mother's Day

New Jersey families celebrate the women in their lives on Mother's Day

0:20
Prosecutor: Lower Township woman arrested for death of her 6-month-old son

Prosecutor: Lower Township woman arrested for death of her 6-month-old son

0:27
Police: Motorcyclist killed in Egg Harbor Township crash

Police: Motorcyclist killed in Egg Harbor Township crash

0:15
Police: Multi-vehicle crash in Elizabeth leaves 5 people injured

Police: Multi-vehicle crash in Elizabeth leaves 5 people injured

0:30
Haliburton, Pacers take advantage of short-handed Knicks to even series with 121-89 rout in Game 4

Haliburton, Pacers take advantage of short-handed Knicks to even series with 121-89 rout in Game 4

2:46
Pro-Palestinian hunger strike at Princeton University marks 1 week

Pro-Palestinian hunger strike at Princeton University marks 1 week

1:39
Senate bill would limit harmful heavy metals in baby food

Senate bill would limit harmful heavy metals in baby food