PASCACK VALLEY—Pascack Valley’s six local school districts and one regional K-12 district, spanning Westwood and Washington Township, received increased school aid amounts that will contribute to keeping property taxes in check for the 2025–2026 school year, state education officials announced.
However, while most districts saw a 6% increase over last year’s school aid check, two districts only received increases of 1.53% and 1.69%. Those districts were Montvale and Woodcliff Lake.
Pascack Press reached out to superintendents in Montvale and Woodcliff Lake to seek comment or clarity on the lower state aid numbers but did not hear back by press time.
In a press statement, state education commissioner Kevin Dehmer said, “This historic investment in Preschool to Grade 12 education demonstrates an unwavering commitment to the students and staff in New Jersey’s public schools. By instituting a cap on decreases in state aid and providing fiscal stability for school districts, school leaders will be able to better plan their budgets and ensure a consistent education for all students.”
The record-setting state aid package for K-12 school districts – totaling $22.2 billion — was announced on Feb. 27 in a state Department of Education statement that included a spreadsheet outlining the amounts awarded to the state’s more than 600 school districts.
Patrice Pintarelli, vice president, River Vale School Board, reported at the March 4 school board meeting that the district’s state aid funding increased. “Wonderful news, we received an additional $83,680, and that’s a six percent increase from last year,” she told trustees at the monthly meeting.
Pintarelli said the district received $1,478,353 in state aid, adding the district “was also hit” with an annual debt service assessment totaling $50,000. “Good news for us since we’re up $83,000,” she said.
School districts generally adopt a preliminary budget in March or April, and after the proposed budget is approved by the county superintendent of schools, hold a final budget adoption public hearing in April or May, depending on district type.
Generally, local school budgets account for 60% to 65% of a local homeowner’s property tax bill. Municipal taxes generally account for 20% to 25% and county taxes approximately 10%. State aid for schools helps to hold down local property tax increases.
Local state aid numbers
- The Emerson Public School District saw a 5.69% increase in state school aid, or $88,604 more than last year’s funding, adding up to $1,645,423 in state aid.
- The Hillsdale School District saw a $93,465, or 6% increase, raising their annual state aid to $1,651,190.
- The Montvale School District saw a 1.53% increase, or $23,686, over last year, raising their annual state aid to $1,569,819.
- The Park RIdge School District saw a 6% increase, or $96,604 over last year, raising its annual state aid to $1,706,676.
- The Woodcliff Lake School District saw a 1.69% increase, or $17,640 over last year, raising its annual state aid to $1,064,391.
- The Westwood Regional School District, a K-12 school system which serves Westwood and Washington Township, saw a 6% increase, or $239,408 over last year, raising its annual state aid to $4,229,549.
- The Pascack Valley Regional High School District, which includes Pascack Hills High School in Montvale and Pascack Valley High School in Hillsdale, saw a 6% increase or $162,690 over last year, raising its state aid to $2,874,211. Montvale and Woodcliff Lake students attend Pascack Hills while River Vale and HIllsdale students attend Pascack Valley.
Expanded preschool
State officials said this year’s proposed state aid budget includes expanding preschool programs.
“The governor remains committed to bringing high-quality preschool programs to more school districts in New Jersey. The FY2026 budget provides a total of $1.3 billion in preschool funding, a $34.6 million increase, which fully funds existing programs, including those that started in FY2025, and uses $10 million to expand programs into new districts. Under the Murphy Administration, funding for preschool increased by more than $550 million since 2018, making early education available for nearly 20,000 additional students in 229 new districts. State-funded, high-quality preschool programs now operate in 293 New Jersey school districts,” notes the DOE statement.
The statement adds, “Additionally, the governor’s budget proposal includes $3 million to provide grants for phone-free schools, which will help improve classroom environments and lessen distractions for students. The proposed budget also includes ongoing support for computer science education, an initiative the Governor has championed since (fiscal year) 2019.”
“Through these efforts, the Administration has increased high school participation in computer science in New Jersey by nearly 20 percent. School Construction Approximately $350 million in funding will be made available to the Schools Development Authority for current projects and new projects identified in its Statewide Strategic Plan. An additional $50 million will support capital grants in SDA districts to ensure students have safe classrooms.”
Generally, the state budget is not approved until late June following votes in both legislative chambers (state Senate and state Assembly) following months of negotiations by members in both houses, and then goes to the governor for his signature.
Often, both Democrats and Republicans add in last-minute items to benefit their districts, so-called “Christmas Tree” items, or pork. Last year, nearly $600 million in last-minute projects were added though Murphy did veto some before signing the final budget tab.
In late February, Gov. Phil Murphy unveiled a $58.1 billion budget proposal for New Jersey’s 2026 fiscal year, which runs July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. It was Murphy’s final budget address and proposal.
Voters will choose a Republican and a Democratic candidate for governor during this year’s primary on Tuesday, June 10 and then vote to elect a new governor on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4.