The top Republicans in the state Senate and Assembly will sponsor Christie's plan. Watch video
TRENTON -- New Jersey's top Republican lawmakers say they will back Gov. Chris Christie's plan to lower property taxes for most state residents by reducing state aid to urban and low-income school districts.
Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr. (R-Union) announced Wednesday he will co-sponsor Christie's proposal along with Sen. Michael Doherty (R-Warren).
Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick (R-Union) already praised the proposal Tuesday and said he will sponsor it in the state Assembly.
Doherty, who will be the primary sponsor of Christie's proposal in Senate, previously proposed a concept similar to Christie's "fairness formula," which would give every school the same amount of state aid per student.
"When some districts continue to fail decade after decade, it's clear that money is not the answer," Doherty said.
Towns with the highest school tax bills
Christie on Tuesday proposed a major overhaul of the state's funding formula, which currently gives districts extra money per pupil for students who historically need extra support, including students from low-income families and students who don't speak English as their first language.
The governor pointed to low graduation rates in certain school districts as a sign that the increased aid isn't helping.
The money saved by cutting off extra funding for those students would be allocated toward property tax relief for 75 percent of the state's school districts, Christie said.
Christie wants his plan, which would require a state constitutional amendment, to be presented to voters as a ballot question next fall, an election that will decide the next governor.
But he acknowledged Tuesday that he faces an uphill battle in getting Democrats to vote for placing the question on the ballot.
State Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson) quickly denounced the proposal as unfair to urban districts.
Christie hopes to put pressure on Democratic lawmakers by holding town hall meetings across the state to drum up public support for the plan, he said.
Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook.