Montclair Schools - Fight for Funding

Financial mismanagement isn’t the only story in the Montclair School District. Yes, the district screwed up, and it’s hard to believe the business administrator received a performance bonus when she allegedly hid unpaid invoices in her desk drawers, so she could meet her targets.

But the story is also about how Montclair isn't getting the funding that it should. Which is also a longer story, about New Jersey.*

I compared the school district budgets of Montclair and Millburn. State and federal contributions are budgeted to underfund Montclair by $862k in 25/26, compared to Millburn. The paltry contribution of $409k more in Title I funding to Montclair is easily dwarfed by disparities with state transportation funds, state security funds, and state and federal special education funding. 

It’s hard not to want an independent voice to oversee the district’s finances, but a state monitor would be focused on what they can control – cutting expenses, selling assets, raising taxes, quickly. A state monitor will focus on managing what Montclair gets, not on getting Montclair's fair share.

Montclair is already giving kids less than Millburn. It doesn't need a state monitor. It needs to fight for the same state and federal funding that a town like Millburn receives – at least.

Highlights

Total State Funding – Montclair collects more in state aid on a per student basis than Millburn, but when adjusted for Montclair’s disproportionate SpED commitments and disparities in the balance of funding, Montclair is underfunded by $619k, overall.

Total Federal Funding – Montclair collects double the federal aid on a gross basis and 51% more on a per student basis than Millburn, but when adjusted for Montclair’s disproportionate SpED commitments, Montclair is underfunded by $242.8k. 

State Transportation Funding – Montclair receives 5% less in state aid for transportation and reports no revenues from subscription bus services. At this rate, Montclair is underfunded by $77.3k.

State Special Education Funding – Montclair receives 4% less in state aid per a SpED student than Millburn. At the Millburn rate per a SpED student for state funds, Montclair is underfunded by $414k.

State Security Funding – Montclair collects 13% less in state security aid than Millburn. According to the Millburn rate, Montclair is underfunded by ~$127.7k.

Federal Special Education Funding – Montclair receives 14% less in federal aid per a SpED student than Millburn. At the Millburn rate per a SpED student for federal funds, Montclair is underfunded by $242.8k

• Note: compared to Cedar Grove, Montclair receives 22% less per SpED student. At the Cedar Grove rate, Montclair is underfunded by $410.4k.

Tax Revenues compared to Millburn – Millburn’s levy raises 3.6% more dollars than Montclair on a per-student basis, but their taxpayers are significantly less encumbered. Montclair taxpayers pay 84% more per a dollar of net taxable valuation. Millburn also collects $209 per a student for transportation fees, which is $950k. If introduced in Montclair, it would collect $1.3m.

*If you want to know how Montclair and New Jersey got into this mess, you need to know about Hands Across New Jersey.