Eliminating 275 School Districts? Look At What NJ May Do

If you feel like you've seen plenty of stunning changes in New Jersey this year, wait until you see what else lawmakers may have in store for the future.

The elimination of at least 275 school districts are among the items on a possible wish list put together by a panel convened by New Jersey lawmakers to study tax and fiscal policy (see list of districts that could be eliminated below).

Patch obtained a copy of a report detailing the potentially dramatic policy changes proposed by the "Economic and Fiscal Policy Working Group." Here are some of the highlights:

• Merge all K-4, K-5, K-6, K-8 and K-9 school districts into K-12 school districts to improve the quality of education and promote efficiency.
• Permit the establishment of two countywide school district pilot programs
• Move toward full state funding and administration of extraordinary special education -

Those districts that would be eliminated under the plan would include Mendham Boro and 274 other communities. The plan would follow the same path outlined by the same group earlier this year that would eliminate 191 towns.

Read more: Eliminating 191 Towns? More Tolls? Look At What NJ Could Do

The creation of the Economic and Fiscal Policy Working Group was announced in February by Senate President Steve Sweeney, who was embroiled in a public dispute over the budget with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a fellow Democrat. The panel consists of economists, tax experts and those with extensive experience on fiscal policy from academia and the public and private sectors, according to lawmakers.

While the state budget dispute has been resolved, Sweeney has pushed for more state reforms, even though his spokesman, Richard McGrath, has insisted that the Economic and Fiscal Policy Working Group is still in the midst of its work. Any possible wish list, he has said, is merely a "draft document."

Sweeney has said he wanted a panel "to evaluate the impact of the federal tax law on New Jersey's economy, jobs, housing values and revenue collections and to assess the broad array of issues that impact taxes and spending at all levels of government in New Jersey."

“New Jersey faces a series of fiscal and economic challenges that threaten to undermine our ability to address the needs of our residents and invest in the programs and services that will move the state forward,” said Sweeney.

The panel worked under the bipartisan leadership of Senate Budget Chair Paul Sarlo, D-Bergen, Sen. Steve Oroho, R-Sussex and Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald, D-Camden. Sarlo has said "everything is on the table" for reform.

“We assembled a group of prominent and accomplished experts who devoted their hard work in developing a series of serious recommendations that are intended to address the state’s fiscal challenges,” said Sarlo. “The report provides a blueprint of ideas that are intended to be thought provoking. They will be the subject of further discussions, debate and consideration. We will work to determine which ones will best serve the needs of the state and which ones we will follow through on. I thank the members for their important contributions.”

Here are some other recommendations made earlier this year by the group:

• Install tolls on interstate highway "near the state line" to help stabilize the pension system.
• Install high-occupancy toll lanes (or HOT lane) on the New Jersey Turnpike, I-80, I-295, I-287, among others.
• Explicitly authorize county sheriffs or county police departments to assume local police responsibilities to encourage county-based policing
• Mandate countywide tax assessments that follow a consistent structure

Here are the school districts that could be eliminated if the state Legislature followed through on the proposal:

• ABSECON CITY, ATLANTIC K-8
• ALEXANDRIA TWP, HUNTERDON K-8
• ALLAMUCHY TWP, WARREN K-8
• ALLENDALE BORO, BERGEN K-8
• ALLOWAY TWP, SALEM K-8
• ALPHA BORO, WARREN K-8
• ALPINE BORO, BERGEN K-8
• ANDOVER REG, SUSSEX K-8
• ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS BORO, MONMOUTH K-6
• AVALON BORO, CAPE MAY K-8
• AVON BORO, MONMOUTH K-8
• BARRINGTON BORO, CAMDEN K-8
• BASS RIVER TWP, BURLINGTON K-6
• BAY HEAD BORO, OCEAN K-8
• BEACH HAVEN BORO, OCEAN K-6
• BEDMINSTER TWP, SOMERSET K-8
• BELLMAWR BORO, CAMDEN K-8
• BELMAR BORO, MONMOUTH K-8
• BERKELEY TWP, OCEAN K-6
• BERLIN BORO, CAMDEN K-8
• BERLIN TWP, CAMDEN K-8
• BETHLEHEM TWP, HUNTERDON K-8
• BEVERLY CITY, BURLINGTON K-8
• BLAIRSTOWN TWP, WARREN K-6
• BLOOMINGDALE BORO, PASSAIC K-8
• BLOOMSBURY BORO, HUNTERDON K-8
• BOONTON TWP, MORRIS K-8
• BRADLEY BEACH BORO, MONMOUTH K-8
• BRANCHBURG TWP, SOMERSET K-8
• BRIELLE BORO, MONMOUTH K-8
• BRIGANTINE CITY, ATLANTIC K-8
• BROOKLAWN BORO, CAMDEN K-8
• BYRAM TWP, SUSSEX K-8
• CALIFON BORO, HUNTERDON K-8
• CAPE MAY CITY, CAPE MAY K-6
• CARLSTADT BORO, BERGEN K-8
• CHESTER TWP, MORRIS K-8
• CHESTERFIELD TWP, BURLINGTON K-6
• CLEMENTON BORO, CAMDEN K-8
• CLINTON TWP, HUNTERDON K-8
• CLINTON-GLEN GARDNER, HUNTERDON K-8
• CLOSTER BORO, BERGEN K-8
• COLTS NECK TWP, MONMOUTH K-8
• COMMERCIAL TWP, CUMBERLAND K-8
• CRANBURY TWP, MIDDLESEX K-8
• DEAL BORO, MONMOUTH K-8
• DEERFIELD TWP, CUMBERLAND K-8
• DELANCO TWP, BURLINGTON K-8
• DELAWARE TWP, HUNTERDON K-8
• DEMAREST BORO, BERGEN K-8
• DENNIS TWP, CAPE MAY K-8
• DENVILLE TWP, MORRIS K-8
• DOWNE TWP, CUMBERLAND K-8
• EAGLESWOOD TWP, OCEAN K-6
• EAST AMWELL TWP, HUNTERDON K-8
• EAST GREENWICH TWP, GLOUCESTER K-6
• EAST HANOVER TWP, MORRIS K-8
• EAST NEWARK BORO, HUDSON K-8
• EAST RUTHERFORD BORO, BERGEN K-8
• EASTAMPTON TWP, BURLINGTON K-8
• EATONTOWN BORO, MONMOUTH K-8
• EDGEWATER BORO, BERGEN K-6
• EDGEWATER PARK TWP, BURLINGTON K-8
• EGG HARBOR CITY, ATLANTIC K-8
• ELK TWP, GLOUCESTER K-6
• ELSINBORO TWP, SALEM K-8
• ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS BORO, BERGEN K-8
• ESSEX FELLS BORO, ESSEX K-6
• ESTELL MANOR CITY, ATLANTIC K-8
• EVESHAM TWP, BURLINGTON K-8
• FAIR HAVEN BORO, MONMOUTH K-8
• FAIRFIELD TWP, ESSEX K-6
• FAIRFIELD TWP, CUMBERLAND K-8
• FAIRVIEW BORO, BERGEN K-8
• FARMINGDALE BORO, MONMOUTH K-8
• FLEMINGTON-RARITAN REG, HUNTERDON K-8
• FLORHAM PARK BORO, MORRIS K-8
• FOLSOM BORO, ATLANTIC K-8
• FRANKFORD TWP, SUSSEX K-8
• FRANKLIN BORO, SUSSEX K-8
• FRANKLIN LAKES BORO, BERGEN K-8
• FRANKLIN TWP, GLOUCESTER K-6
• FRANKLIN TWP, WARREN K-6
• FRANKLIN TWP, HUNTERDON K-8
• FREDON TWP, SUSSEX K-6
• FREEHOLD BORO, MONMOUTH K-8
• FREEHOLD TWP, MONMOUTH K-8
• FRELINGHUYSEN TWP, WARREN K-6
• FRENCHTOWN BORO, HUNTERDON K-8
• GALLOWAY TWP, ATLANTIC K-8
• GARWOOD BORO, UNION K-8
• GIBBSBORO BORO, CAMDEN K-8
• GLOUCESTER TWP, CAMDEN K-8
• GREAT MEADOWS REGIONAL, WARREN K-8
• GREEN BROOK TWP, SOMERSET K-8
• GREEN TWP, SUSSEX K-8
• GREENWICH TWP, CUMBERLAND K-8
• GREENWICH TWP, GLOUCESTER K-8
• GREENWICH TWP, WARREN K-8
• GUTTENBERG TOWN, HUDSON K-8
• HAINESPORT TWP, BURLINGTON K-8
• HALEDON BORO, PASSAIC K-8
• HAMBURG BORO, SUSSEX K-8
• HAMILTON TWP, ATLANTIC K-8
• HAMPTON BORO, HUNTERDON K-8
• HAMPTON TWP, SUSSEX K-6
• HANOVER TWP, MORRIS K-8
• HARDING TOWNSHIP, MORRIS K-8
• HARDYSTON TWP, SUSSEX K-8
• HARMONY TWP, WARREN K-8
• HARRINGTON PARK BORO, BERGEN K-8
• HARRISON TWP, GLOUCESTER K-6
• HAWORTH BORO, BERGEN K-8
• HIGH BRIDGE BORO, HUNTERDON K-8
• HIGHLANDS BORO, MONMOUTH K-6
• HILLSDALE BORO, BERGEN K-8
• HO HO KUS BORO, BERGEN K-8
• HOLLAND TWP, HUNTERDON K-8
• HOPE TWP, WARREN K-8
• HOPEWELL TWP, CUMBERLAND K-8
• HOWELL TWP, MONMOUTH K-8
• ISLAND HEIGHTS BORO, OCEAN K-6
• JAMESBURG BORO, MIDDLESEX K-8
• KINGWOOD TWP, HUNTERDON K-8
• KNOWLTON TWP, WARREN K-6
• LAFAYETTE TWP, SUSSEX K-8
• LAKEHURST BORO, OCEAN K-8
• LAUREL SPRINGS BORO, CAMDEN K-6
• LAVALLETTE BORO, OCEAN K-8
• LAWNSIDE BORO, CAMDEN K-8
• LAWRENCE TWP, CUMBERLAND K-8
• LEBANON BORO, HUNTERDON K-6
• LEBANON TWP, HUNTERDON K-8
• LINCOLN PARK BORO, MORRIS K-8
• LINWOOD CITY, ATLANTIC K-8
• LITTLE EGG HARBOR TWP, OCEAN K-6
• LITTLE FALLS TWP, PASSAIC K-8
• LITTLE FERRY BORO, BERGEN K-8
• LITTLE SILVER BORO, MONMOUTH K-8
• LOGAN TWP, GLOUCESTER K-8
• LONG BEACH ISLAND, OCEAN K-6
• LONG HILL TWP, MORRIS K-8
• LOPATCONG TWP, WARREN K-8
• LOWER ALLOWAYS CREEK, SALEM K-8
• LOWER TWP, CAPE MAY K-6
• LUMBERTON TWP, BURLINGTON K-8
• MAGNOLIA BORO, CAMDEN K-8
• MANALAPAN-ENGLISHTOWN REG, MONMOUTH K-8
• MANNINGTON TWP, SALEM K-8
• MANSFIELD TWP, BURLINGTON K-6
• MANSFIELD TWP, WARREN K-6
• MANTUA TWP, GLOUCESTER K-6
• MARGATE CITY, ATLANTIC K-8
• MARLBORO TWP, MONMOUTH K-8
• MAURICE RIVER TWP, CUMBERLAND K-8
• MAYWOOD BORO, BERGEN K-8
• MEDFORD LAKES BORO, BURLINGTON K-8
• MEDFORD TWP, BURLINGTON K-8
• MENDHAM BORO, MORRIS K-8
• MENDHAM TWP, MORRIS K-8
• MERCHANTVILLE BORO, CAMDEN K-8
• MILFORD BORO, HUNTERDON K-8
• MILLSTONE TWP, MONMOUTH K-8
• MILLTOWN BORO, MIDDLESEX K-8
• MINE HILL TWP, MORRIS K-6
• MONMOUTH BEACH BORO, MONMOUTH K-8
• MONTAGUE TWP, SUSSEX K-8
• MONTVALE BORO, BERGEN K-8
• MOONACHIE BORO, BERGEN K-8
• MORRIS PLAINS BORO, MORRIS K-8
• MOUNT ARLINGTON BORO, MORRIS K-8
• MOUNT HOLLY TWP, BURLINGTON K-8
• MOUNT LAUREL TWP, BURLINGTON K-8
• MOUNTAINSIDE BORO, UNION K-8
• MOUNT EPHRAIM, K-8
• MULLICA TWP, ATLANTIC K-8
• NATIONAL PARK BORO, GLOUCESTER K-6
• NEPTUNE CITY, MONMOUTH K-8
• NETCONG BORO, MORRIS K-8
• NEW HANOVER TWP, BURLINGTON K-8
• NORTH CALDWELL BORO, ESSEX K-6
• NORTH HALEDON BORO, PASSAIC K-8
• NORTH HANOVER TWP, BURLINGTON K-6
• NORTH WILDWOOD CITY, CAPE MAY K-8
• NORTHFIELD CITY, ATLANTIC K-8
• NORTHVALE BORO, BERGEN K-8
• NORWOOD BORO, BERGEN K-8
• OAKLAND BORO, BERGEN K-8
• OAKLYN BORO, K-9
• OCEAN GATE BORO, OCEAN K-6
• OCEAN TWP, OCEAN K-6
• OCEANPORT BORO, MONMOUTH K-8
• OGDENSBURG BORO, SUSSEX K-8
• OLD TAPPAN BORO, BERGEN K-8
• OLDMANS TWP, SALEM K-8
• ORADELL BORO, BERGEN K-6
• OXFORD TWP, WARREN K-8
• POHATCONG TWP, WARREN K-8
• PORT REPUBLIC CITY, ATLANTIC K-8
• PROSPECT PARK BORO, PASSAIC K-8
• QUINTON TWP, SALEM K-8
• READINGTON TWP, HUNTERDON K-8
• RED BANK BORO, MONMOUTH K-8
• RINGWOOD BORO, PASSAIC K-8
• RIVER EDGE BORO, BERGEN K-6
• RIVER VALE TWP, BERGEN K-8
• RIVERDALE BORO, MORRIS K-8
• RIVERTON, BURLINGTON K-8
• ROCHELLE PARK TWP, BERGEN K-8
• ROCKAWAY BORO, MORRIS K-8
• ROCKAWAY TWP, MORRIS K-8
• ROOSEVELT BORO, MONMOUTH K-6
• ROSELAND BORO, ESSEX K-6
• RUMSON BORO, MONMOUTH K-8
• RUNNEMEDE BORO, CAMDEN K-8
• SADDLE RIVER BORO, BERGEN K-6
• SANDYSTON-WALPACK TWP, SUSSEX K-6
• SEA GIRT BORO, MONMOUTH K-8
• SEASIDE HEIGHTS BORO, OCEAN K-6
• SHAMONG TWP, BURLINGTON K-8
• SHREWSBURY BORO, MONMOUTH K-8
• SOMERDALE BORO, CAMDEN K-8
• SOMERS POINT CITY, ATLANTIC K-8
• SOUTH BOUND BROOK, SOMERSET K-8
• SOUTH HACKENSACK TWP, BERGEN K-8
• SOUTH HARRISON TWP, GLOUCESTER K-6
• SOUTHAMPTON TWP, BURLINGTON K-8
• SPRING LAKE BORO, MONMOUTH K-8
• SPRING LAKE HEIGHTS BORO, MONMOUTH K-8
• SPRINGFIELD TWP, BURLINGTON K-6
• STAFFORD TWP, OCEAN K-6
• STANHOPE BORO, SUSSEX K-8
• STILLWATER TWP, SUSSEX K-6
• STONE HARBOR BORO, CAPE MAY K-4
• STOW CREEK TWP, CUMBERLAND K-8
• STRATFORD BORO, CAMDEN K-8
• SUSSEX-WANTAGE REGIONAL, SUSSEX K-8
• SWEDESBORO-WOOLWICH, GLOUCESTER K-6
• TABERNACLE TWP, BURLINGTON K-8
• TEWKSBURY TWP, HUNTERDON K-8
• TINTON FALLS, MONMOUTH K-8
• TOTOWA BORO, PASSAIC K-8
• TUCKERTON BORO, OCEAN K-6
• UNION BEACH, MONMOUTH K-8
• UNION TWP, HUNTERDON K-8
• UPPER DEERFIELD TWP, CUMBERLAND K-8
• UPPER PITTSGROVE TWP, SALEM K-8
• UPPER SADDLE RIVER BORO, BERGEN K-8
• UPPER TWP, CAPE MAY K-8
• VENTNOR CITY, ATLANTIC K-8
• VOORHEES TWP, CAMDEN K-8
• WANAQUE BORO, PASSAIC K-8
• WARREN TWP, SOMERSET K-8
• WASHINGTON BORO, WARREN K-6
• WASHINGTON TWP, WARREN K-6
• WASHINGTON TWP, MORRIS K-8
• WATCHUNG BORO, SOMERSET K-8
• WATERFORD TWP, CAMDEN K-6
• WENONAH BORO, GLOUCESTER K-6
• WEST CAPE MAY BORO, CAPE MAY K-6
• WEST LONG BRANCH BORO, MONMOUTH K-8
• WESTAMPTON, BURLINGTON K-8
• WESTVILLE BORO, GLOUCESTER K-6
• WEYMOUTH TWP, ATLANTIC K-8
• WHARTON BORO, MORRIS K-8
• WHITE TWP, WARREN K-8
• WILDWOOD CREST BORO, CAPE MAY K-8
• WINFIELD TWP, UNION K-8
• WOODBINE BORO, CAPE MAY K-8
• WOODBURY HEIGHTS BORO, GLOUCESTER K-6
• WOODCLIFF LAKE BORO, BERGEN K-8
• WOODLAND PARK, PASSAIC K-8
• WOODLAND TWP, BURLINGTON K-8
• WOODLYNNE BORO, CAMDEN K-8
• WYCKOFF TWP, BERGEN K-8

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