Addressing schools — and taxes — key in governor's race

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — All the candidates running to replace New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie agree that addressing the state's high property taxes is a priority, although any fixes will be closely linked to K-12 education in the state.

Republican candidates in the race have gone after each other over their plans for addressing property taxes, while the Democrats are in agreement that the formula that's supposed to be used to fund schools should be followed.

Decisions made by the governor about education affect not only kids in the classroom, but also the real estate taxes that their parents pay.

Christie has been lobbying for an overhaul of the funding formula that would send money to districts per-pupil equally and eliminate the Supreme Court-mandated funding plan that the two-term governor has ignored.

On the Democratic side, all four of the leading candidates have pledged to fully fund the school aid formula.

Guadagno says that she wants to reform the "antiquated" school funding formula, while also increasing aid for special education while also auditing all of the state's school districts.