MORRIS COUNTY — Assemblywoman Aura Dunn criticized Trenton’s spending priorities on Tuesday during a debate on the $60.75 billion fiscal year 2027 state budget, arguing school districts are struggling while legislative Democrats direct funding to district-specific pet projects.
“While we’re finding $611 million for legislative pet projects, school districts up in the Highlands are being told there isn’t enough. In West Milford, an elementary school is closing. In Jefferson Township, high school athletics are on the chopping block,” Dunn (R-Morris) said. “These are real communities, real kids, real programs being cut because this budget leaves them underfunded by the state’s own formula.”
In May, Assemblywoman Aura Dunn introduced a bipartisan school funding fix (A4860) for districts located in municipalities subject to Highlands development restrictions. The legislation would provide additional state aid to school districts in communities where large portions of land are protected by the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act, which limits a municipality’s ability to grow its tax base.
“Unfortunately, our school funding system has failed to account for the economic impact of these environmental burdens that limit a town’s ability to expand their tax base in the same way that urban districts are limited by municipal burdens,” she said after introducing the bill.
From the floor of the Assembly, Dunn noted Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s first state budget includes $253 million in last-minute legislative add-ons, on top of $358 million in supplemental spending for fiscal year 2026 discreetly pushed through by Democrats, a practice the governor denounced earlier this year.
“If we have time to find money for Christmas tree projects, we have time to fix the school funding formula for districts like these,” Dunn said.
