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Special Session Joint Committee Reports, due Wednesday, 11-15-06.... What GSCS is hearing: Overall, the recommendations will be more general than specific -
1. An additional $1B for school funding; distribution and how local districts' ability-to-pay is calculated will be different, but not yet determined.
2. Hard caps on school budgets and/or spending with little flexibility allowed; districts may put out separate questions but will have a minimum voter participation requirement in order for that vote to be implemented - 20% has been mentioned - as well as a supermajority (60% or so) required for passage of the question.
3. Funding will follow the individual student and not be based on the district type.
4. In question - will special education funding be 'equalized' and folded into the adequacy foundation budget? Indications are that this change is planned, even though special education programs are based on individual students' IEP's (Individual Education Plan for each special education student, thus does apply to all students in a district which is the normal definition of 'regular education' funding) .
5. Consolidation into 21 county districts is not anticipated, but the 'super' county superintendent approach in A54/Roberts is likely.
6. Flexibility and dual spouse buy-out incentives will be recommended for the State Health Benefits plan, along the lines the GSCS has recommended in its testimony this fall to the committees.
7. Governor Corzine will present his position re property tax reform and legislative efforts tomorrow at the League of Municipalities Convention in Atlantic City.
From Star Ledger Website 'Live from the Ledger' 11-14-06 pm
Corzine: Tax relief plans need reliable funding
GARDEN STATE COALITION OF SCHOOLS FYI on Special Session Joint Committee Reports, due 11-15-06
What we are hearing: Overall, the recommendations will be more general than specific -
1. An additional $1B for school funding; distribution and how local districts' ability-to-pay is calculated will be different, but not yet determined.
2. Hard caps on school budgets and/or spending with little flexibility allowed; districts may put out separate questions but will have a minimum voter participation requirement in order for that vote to be implemented - 20% has been mentioned - as well as a supermajority (60% or so) required for passage of the question.
3. Funding will follow the individual student and not be based on the district type.
4. In question - will special education funding be 'equalized' and folded into the adequacy foundation budget? Indications are that this change is planned, even though special education programs are based on individual students' IEP's (Individual Education Plan for each special education student, thus does apply to all students in a district which is the normal definition of 'regular education' funding) .
5. Consolidation into 21 county districts is not anticipated, but the 'super' county superintendent approach in A54/Roberts is likely.
6. Flexibility and dual spouse buy-out incentives will be recommended for the State Health Benefits plan, along the lines the GSCS has recommended in its testimony this fall to the committees.
7. Governor Corzine will present his position re property tax reform and legislative efforts tomorrow at the League of Municipalities Convention in Atlantic City.
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As four legislative committees prepare to issue recommendations for property tax reform tomorrow, Gov. Jon Corzine warned today that any new tax credits, school aid or other programs must have ongoing revenue sources to pay for them. In other words: No one-shot solutions.
Legislative leaders are talking about an average 20 percent property tax for most homeowners next year, and a new school funding formula that would provide an additional $1 billion in aid to local districts.
Speaking to reporters today, Corzine said "Those need to be financed. ... I can see how that can be done. We're working on the details of that and we will continue to. But reform and sustainability are just as important as tax relief. ... Otherwise we'll end up giving false hope to our citizens."
Four joint legislative committees are to issue reports tomorrow with recommendations on reforming state employee pension and benefits; revising school funding; ways to streamline local government; and whether constitutional changes are needed to achieve tax relief.
"You won't have a full package tomorrow," Corzine said. "You'll have recommendations that need to be refined and turned into proposals that will come to the governor ... that we will either sign or won't sign... The public expects that the governor is going to look at the needs of the whole state and the financial picture, not just in the short run, but over a long period of time."
Corzine made his comments to reporters in Bayonne, where state and local officials were marking the 75th anniversary of the Bayonne Bridge.
Contributed by Jeff Whelan
