Believe it or Not: Petition Describing "defunding" a Public School District Currently Allocating $29,672 per Student AND a 9.95% School Tax Increase for 2020-21

A petition using the official seal of the Hoboken Board of Education, is circulating on social media alleging that the Hoboken School District is in danger of being "defunded." Clearly trying to leverage recent turmoil around the country about "defunding the police" -- this effort is no less ill informed and trying to stoke and divide the community. 

What are the facts? The facts are that according to the independent company Niche.com (see below), the taxpayers of Hoboken, NJ fund the Hoboken Public School district at a rate of $29,672 per student AND the Hoboken Board of Education in May passed an unopposed 9.95% tax increase for the Hoboken Public Schools in the middle of a financial crisis in the City of Hoboken- specifically because of "increasing enrollment."

It seems as if the definition of "defunding" and its intent need to be examined.

This issue revolves around circumstances surrounding a PILOT that was granted to a development project in the city a few years ago.