Tuckerton Elementary School District Business Administer Marian Smith began her budget presentation to the district’s board of education on March 28 with some disheartening news. Tuckerton Elementary will receive almost $300,000 – $297,361 to be exact – less in state aid for the 2022-23 school year than it had in 2021-22.

Such a drop in state aid often ends up hurting local taxpayers because they have to make up the difference. In this case it won’t.