Following a months-long budget process, the New Jersey Legislature has now passed the $56.7 billion state budget for Fiscal Year 2025.
The budget, which Governor Phil Murphy signed into law late Friday evening, contains a $2.1 billion deficit and includes over $380 million in cuts. However, Agudath Israel of America’s New Jersey office is pleased to share that Agudath Israel and its coalition partners, have successfully secured several funding increases for key budget items which directly impact the community.
Over the last several months, Shomo Schorr, Agudath Israel of America’s Director of Legislative Affairs for New Jersey, testified before the Senate and Assembly budget committees on items of importance, and met personally with dozens of legislators from both chambers to stress the importance of the currently funded programs.
Thankfully, those efforts led to an overall increase of $2 million for nonpublic schools in the state.
Here are some of the funding amounts included in the budget:
- $1,177 per student in the aid-in-lieu amount for nonpublic school transportation.
- $46.1 million for Chapter 192 remedial services for nonpublic school students.
- $28.2 million for Chapter 193 remedial services for nonpublic school students.
- $7.4 million, at $49 per pupil for technology for schools.
- $20.1 million, or $130 per pupil for nonpublic school nursing. This includes an additional $2 million allocation.
- $500,000 for Kosher meals on wheels.
- $30.5 million for nonpublic security aid.
- $10 million for nonprofit security grant program.
“Despite a tough fiscal environment in the state, which resulted in a multi-billion deficit, we were successful in not just preventing cuts to programs important to our community, but also to achieve several funding increases,” said Shlomo Schorr.
“We are extremely grateful to Assemblyman Avi Schnall (D-Lakewood) for his relentless efforts in securing these vital funds,” Schorr added. “His dedication and hard work have been instrumental in achieving this outcome, and we are immensely grateful for his support and advocacy on behalf of our community.”
“Additionally, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Assemblyman Gary Schaer (D-Passaic) for his invaluable contributions. His tireless efforts on behalf of the community have been crucial in ensuring that these essential services are adequately funded, and we are deeply appreciative of his efforts,” Schorr said.
More government welfare, how wonderful! (sarcasm intended)
we have never had such shefa in klal yisroel since the yidden left to golus,(with several purim party’s thrown around in the hundreds of thousands each)yungerleit driving late model cars and buying town homes over milion $.Young millionaires on every block i think Lakewood traffic is a bigger issue to most of us, as opposed to getting meals for wheels, and what other freebees they fight for. Get laws past to stop all mass development and bring back the quality of life this town used to enjoy!!!
Lakewood used to be a town where we all co-existed with less traffic. Wish the old Lakewood would happen. we all used to get along, not anymore it’s a cry for who wants more, and build more, and more traffic. There used to be woods.