NJ Spotlight--The List: Five Things to Listen for in the Governor's Final Budget Address
The budget address has a tendency to go on too long or to be crammed with numbers essential and inessential. Here's help making sure you don't miss anything important
Gov. Chris Christie will present the final state budget of his two-term tenure tomorrow afternoon in a speech before a joint session of the Legislature in Trenton. While Christie and lawmakers have already been jockeying over the issue of school aid in advance of the budget address this year, there are also open questions about the impact that looming changes from a new administration in Washington, D.C., could have on the state’s finances. This year is also a full election year in New Jersey, with the governor’s office and all 120 legislative seats on the November ballot.
Since gubernatorial budget addresses are typically longwinded and littered with lots of numbers, here’s a list of the biggest issues to look out for as the fiscal year 2018 budget is officially unveiled this week.
John Reitmeyer | February 27, 2017
Star Ledger--With N.J. charter schools under attack, supporters plan counteroffensive
TRENTON -- Supporters of New Jersey's charter schools are planning a major lobbying effort in the state capital next week as controversy and criticism surrounding the schools continues to mount.
A group of nearly 200 charter school supporters, mostly parents, will gather at the state house to deliver the message that charter schools are changing lives, adding value to children's education and creating opportunities for students, according to the New Jersey Charter Schools Association.
"I wanted something better for my children and couldn't afford to move or pay for private school," said Haneef Auguste, whose four children attend KIPP New Jersey Schools in Newark. "No one should stand in the way of any child's chance at a better life, especially when the circumstances in some of our communities are so dire."
Adam Clark | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com| February 24, 2017 at 12:33 PM
Star Ledger--N.J. budget drama: Will Christie make final push for drastic school funding changes?
TRENTON -- As Gov. Chris Christie prepares to deliver his final state budget address Tuesday, the drama centers on one question:
Will he try to use the state's spending plan to force action on his controversial school funding proposal known as the "Fairness Formula"?
The governor -- who already addressed the state's dwindling transportation funding and pledged to make good on New Jersey's pension contributions -- has thus far left the education world in suspense.
To be sure, he's even played up the intrigue of whether he will include in the budget his proposed school funding changes -- a move that would leave urban districts scrambling to plan for crippling reductions in state state.
"Stay tuned," Christie said on his regular radio program. "Especially those school people. Get ready."
Samantha Marcus and Adam Clark | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com| February 26, 2017 at 7:30 AM, updated February 26, 2017 at 9:24 AM
The Record--Editorial: Public school funding remains contentious
Another storm over education funding is brewing in New Jersey. This latest kick-up comes just as Governor Christie prepares to deliver his final budget address on Tuesday, in the midst of an era where Trenton has not funded some districts according to the existing formula in nearly a decade. As Staff Writer Hannan Adely reported, some school funding advocates are fearful that the governor will try to push through his so-called “fair funding” formula that would, in essence, short-fund the state’s poorest districts.
“When did it become acceptable to simply not fund our schools as promised?” said Jody Demas, a parent in Palmyra and an organizer with the state Save Our Schools NJ campaign. “Let’s remember our constitution requires we provide a thorough and efficient system of free public schools for all children.”
http://www.northjersey.com/story/opinion/editorials/2017/02/27/editorial-public-school-funding-remains-contentious/98370960/
NorthJersey| 12:06 a.m. ET Feb. 27, 2017