Howell Schools Get Increase in State Aid

Just one day after a the Howell Board of Education got what could be good news from Trenton with additional funding from last year. 

This year the state will contribute a total of $32,977,580 to the district's budget. That is an increase of $1,294,815 that the district received last year. 

With the numbers being released on Thursday, it provided an answer to at least one of the questions that remained unanswered after Wednesday's meeting of the board. After voting to move their elections to November, it also could help in preparing the budget for the upcoming year. Unlike previous years budgets will no longer be put to a public vote unless they exceed the two percent state cap. 

Superintendent Enid Golden said she would like to see the money be used for upgrading the district's technology initiatives and "possibly some for lowering class size at the primary level if needed."

The tentative budget the board approved this week still has to be approved by the executive superintendent of schools before final approval by the board. 

Governor Chris Christie's budget that was also introduced this week included $7.8 billion in K-12 aid, which is $135 million more than last year

State School Aid 2012-13: The Breakdown

• Total aid, 2011-12: $31,682,765
• Total aid, 2012-13: $32,977,580
• Year-to-Year Change: +$1,294,815
• Percentage Change: +4.1 percent
• Transportation Aid (2012-13): $609,814
• Special Education Aid (2012-13): $3,752,507
• Security Aid (2012-13): $507,962