1. Property Tax Convention Task Force: Final Report http://www.nj.gov/convention/finalreport.html -

Major Highlights: The Report stipulates holding a convention that is not allowed to make recommendations about spending, and is limited to ‘revenue-neutral’ analysis. On the other hand, the Task Force proposes that the convention be empowered to write statute, a prerogative that has historically remained only in the hands of the legislature. Statutes written by this ad hoc convention could possibly be more encompassing.

• Note: Look for an article on the convention to be in a forthcoming publication of the Economist.

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2. REVISIONS & RESTRICTIONS FOR EXTRAORDINARY SPECIAL EDUCATION AID APPLICATIONS: The Department of Education just sent out a memo to local districts revising the application process for Extraordinary Aid applications for the 2004-2005 school year.  Please note there are changes in what elements qualify as eligible for aid. Here is an excerpt from the memo, which is attached to this EMAILNET in its entirety.

“…The Extraordinary Aid program has seen a rapid growth in funding over the past several years. From $10 million in the fiscal year of 1999-2000 it has grown to last year’s authorization of $52 million.  This illustrates the increasing needs in districts with eligible students.  In order to ensure that the available funds are equitably distributed for educational purposes there are important new changes in the application process and in the eligibility of certain types of costs.  We urge you to read the program manual at https://homeroom.state.nj.us/exaid.htm for the full details.  Following is a summary of the two major changes:

1.     The first major change is that for eligible individual students with costs in excess of $150,000, districts are now required to file the appropriate Exaid-1 workpaper document in our Trenton office.  Districts are still required to complete the Exaid-1 workpaper for all eligible students educated either in-district or out-of-district. This document, as well as supporting materials such as the student’s IEP and documentation supporting the cost of each placement must be kept on file in the district.  The Exaid-1 workpapers being sent to Trenton can be faxed to (609) 292 - 6794 or emailed to EXAID@doe.state.nj.us.  Failure to do so will result in the application being disallowed.  Districts are not expected to submit cost supporting documents.  Again, it is only the Exaid-1 document which should be submitted and then only under the circumstances as described above.

2.        The second major change is in regard to the limitation that the reimbursement is for educational services only.  Under 18A:7F-19b applicable costs are defined as those that are incurred in providing education for an individual classified student. The department considers this as costs for those services called for in an individual student’s IEP.  In previous years some legal expenses were allowed under certain circumstances, but these costs can no longer be included.  Similarly, no transportation or administrative costs can be included in your calculations…”

3.       S1701 Regulations on the DOE Website

The Department of Education now has on its finance website the Spreadsheet

and Directions for Budgetary Transfers.  Also, the final S1701 Regulations are posted at the same site:

http://www.nj.gov/njded/finance/fp/af/s1701/