As the Barnegat Township Board of Education was preparing the 2005-26 school budget, it got word from Trenton that its state equalization aid was going to drop by $526,185.

“While the district is pleased to have received an increase in state aid based on our rising costs in some areas, unfortunately, this is the second year the state has continued to decrease in the area of Equalization Aid,” Business Administrator/Board Secretary Katherine Van Tassel said.