Governor Christie’s plan to increase state aid to school districts throughout the state by $250 million in his Fiscal Year 2012 budget proposal indicates that his plan to fix New Jersey’s finances is working, Assemblyman Joe Malone said. “The tough budget decisions we made last year are paying off this year for every school district in the state,” said Malone, R-Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean. “For the second straight year, Governor Christie has proposed a budget that cuts spending without raising taxes and the benefits are clear. This year’s Republican budget will have more funds available for classrooms and property tax relief.”
 
Malone, a member of the Assembly Education Committee and past Republican Budget Officer, said the administration has proved its commitment to educating children through its aggressive reform agenda and budget priorities in these critical financial times.
 
“Governor Christie has shown tremendous leadership to do what’s right for the children,” Malone said. “People do not realize that state dollars used for funding of schools increased last year and that the $1 billion in lost school aid was due to the reduction in federal stimulus funding. In reality, the state aid to schools will have increased by nearly a half billion dollars in Governor Christie’s first two budgets, which is truly remarkable considering the extremely difficult financial circumstances he inherited.” TLS.