As part of a fiscal year 2022 budget that he says “invests in America’s best public school system,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has earmarked millions to support public schools as well as expand higher education.
In his prerecorded budget address that aired Feb. 23, Murphy also spoke about “getting our pension system back to safe ground.”
“But properly funding our pensions isn’t the only obligation we have worked hard to meet,” he said. “The budget I am proposing would increase our investment in our public schools by 700 million dollars.”
Money has also been set aside for the Educational Opportunity Fund program, the Community College Opportunity Grant Program and the Garden State Guarantee.
“We’re pleased and want to thank Gov. Murphy for full pension, the increased prekindergarten-to-12 funding, and the financial aid that will allow more students to attend and be supported at New Jersey’s higher education institutions,” said AFTNJ President Donna M. Chiera. “However, we are concerned that what’s been allotted for higher education is merely a partial investment. New Jersey’s institutes of higher learning continue to struggle, so the state budget only provides limited assistance. We are now keeping our proverbial fingers crossed that President Biden’s American Rescue Plan will help our colleges and universities in the short term but hope to see in future budgets a larger, sustainable investment in higher education.”
