O’Dea Blasts “Unjust and Shameful” State Budget That Shortchanges Jersey City Students

Hudson County Commissioner and Jersey City mayoral candidate Bill O’Dea is calling on state legislators to reject the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 school budget, citing what he describes as a “shameful imbalance” in the distribution of state education aid across Hudson County.

According to newly released data from the New Jersey Department of Education, Jersey City would receive just $4,080 in state aid per student under the proposed budget — less than half the amount allocated per student in nearby communities such as Union City ($14,060), West New York ($10,000), and East Newark ($8,000).

“This budget hasn’t passed yet, and that means we still have time to stop it,” said Commissioner Bill O’Dea. “We’re talking about more than 26,000 Jersey City students being shortchanged — again — while other towns receive double or triple the funding with fewer students to educate. This is an insult to our educators, our families, and most importantly, our kids. Enough is enough.”

Commissioner O’Dea, who is also running for mayor of Jersey City, said the current school funding formula is outdated and inequitable, failing to account for the realities of growing urban districts like Jersey City. He pointed to mounting challenges in the district — including aging infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, and a persistent funding gap — that are exacerbated by the state’s uneven aid distribution.

“I am calling on every Hudson County legislator to vote NO on this budget unless it includes a significant correction in how funds are allocated to Jersey City,” O’Dea continued. “If you vote yes, you're voting to keep Jersey City’s children at the bottom of the funding barrel. That’s not leadership — that’s betrayal. This budget must be fixed before it becomes law.”

The Fiscal Year 2026 state budget is expected to be voted on in the coming weeks. O’Dea said that while long-term reforms to the school funding formula are necessary, immediate action must be taken now to prevent further harm to Jersey City’s public school system.