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Hearing to air cost savings in public jobs Monday, September 18, 2006 The Record
Revision of funding hinges on special education issues Wednesday, September 13, 2006 Star Ledger
Dry hearings color tax reform debate
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 09/18/06
Revision of funding hinges on special education issues
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
BY JOHN MOONEY
Star-Ledger Staff
Special education is a $3 billion enterprise in
So when the Legislature comes back this fall with a plan for fixing how the state pays for its public schools, lawmakers said yesterday special education will have to be a key part of their proposed solution.
As a joint committee charged with revising the state's school funding system held its latest hear ing yesterday, there was little disagreement over the biggest chal lenges facing special education.
Legislators spoke of the expensive litigation that often roils districts, as well as the state's high rates of classifying children and then sending them to separate schools.
More than 10.9 percent of
"I don't think we have time to wait," said state Sen. John Adler (D-Camden), co-chair of the special committee. "I think there will be legislation coming out of this committee that will deal with private (school) placements and the level we are identifying kids.
"We want to take real action on this in the next couple of months," he said.
The hard part will be in determining viable solutions in a field rife with complex rules and strained emotions.
Testifying before the commit tee, acting Assistant Commis sioner Barbara Gantwerk warned they are tough issues to legislate, as much of special education is driven by federal law that re quires every child's program be set by his or her own individual needs.
For instance, she said the state can more closely review the spending of private schools that serve special education children at public expense, but it can't step in on the placements. "You have to be very careful," she said.
At another point, state Sen. Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen) pressed Gantwerk on how the state can help districts when parents contest their programs and seek mediation, and sometimes litigation.
"I hear from districts that if parents are on one side and schools are on the other, the schools will lose," Cardinale said. "They don't believe it is a level playing field."
Gantwerk said although a vast majority are settled beforehand, districts actually win most cases that are decided by the courts. "I can guarantee you parents feel at a disadvantage, too," she said. "Litigation is unpleasant for everybody."
Special education was one of several broad topics discussed at yesterday's hearing dedicated to state and federal mandates on schools.
The committee also heard from Mary Fulton, an analyst with the Education Commission of the States in
The state this year has budgeted more than $16.2 million for devising and administering tests required by No Child Left Behind.
John Mooney covers education. He may be reached at jmooney@starledger.com, or (973) 392-1548.
Hearing to air cost savings in public jobs
Monday, September 18, 2006
The Joint Legislative Committee on Public Employee Benefits Reform will hold a public hearing Tuesday in
The bipartisan panel is one of four commissioned by the Legislature to study ways to rein in property tax increases. Others are focusing on consolidation of local government services and public-school funding reform.
The session will begin at 5 p.m. in the auditorium of
"We have spent more than a month gathering information from various experts and professionals from across the country," said Assemblywoman Nellie Pou, D-Passaic, co-chairwoman of the joint committee. "Now
The subject holds intense public interest. In a special series published in July, The Record detailed how salaries and benefits enjoyed by schoolteachers, police officers and other public employees are a major factor in soar- ing property taxes and how they often outstrip the equivalent compensation of private-sector workers in
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Directions to The Record's "Runaway Pay" series can be read online at: |
The series, titled "Runaway Pay," drew a large response; the newspaper received comments from more than 300 readers. Most said they thought public-employee compensation was too high.
The committee said those wishing to testify should register by calling (609) 292-9106 or by faxing notice to the attention of Pamela Espenshade or Jim Vari at (609) 777-2998. Because seating is limited, early registration is encouraged.
Dry hearings color tax reform debate
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 09/18/06
BY JONATHAN TAMARI
So far, not much.
Nearly two months into lawmakers' efforts to curb property taxes by tackling some of New Jersey's most politically charged and expensive elements of government — Gov. Corzine lumped together those metaphors in a July speech to lawmakers — committee hearings have mostly resulted in dry, academic discussions that often outline what cannot be done rather than what money-saving options exist.
Some critics are frustrated at the pace of progress on the long-standing issue, but with another two months left until Democrats' self-imposed deadline to propose their solutions, legislative leaders said last week they are laying the foundation for reform by closely studying the complex issues involved and expect their plans to take shape over the next month — even if the hearings might be putting people to sleep, said Senate President Richard J. Codey, D-Essex.
"They may not be sexy. Everybody may not read the whole story in the papers, but we've got to do what we've got to do. Down the road, clearly we're going to do something that's productive and, in the long term, stem the tide of high property taxes," Codey said. "I think within a month we'll get a flavor as to where we'd like to go."
Codey, however, dismissed one of the few concrete proposals that seemed to be gaining steam, saying
"There's not going to be county schools. People don't want it, simple as that," Codey said. He said parents want control over their schools, even if they sometimes have to pay more.
Many of the topics up for discussion — which range from pension regulations to arcane tax statutes — involve complex laws and intricate details that have sometimes left even veteran lawmakers scratching their heads.
But Republicans say the time for study is past.
"It's time to put solutions on the table," said Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance, R-Hunterdon.
Assemblyman Richard Merkt, R-Morris, said the committee on which he serves has spent six weeks "getting our feet wet."
"The property-tax payers of this state are tired of the delay and excuses," said Merkt, who is on the committee studying constitutional reforms and a possible citizens' convention.
Democrats, however, urge patience.
"I believe at the end of the session we're going to have a whole bunch of pieces of legislation that will dramatically change the tax landscape in
In
Republicans said residents expect thousands of dollars in savings off their $5,900 average property tax bills.
"If we're not picking up billions of dollars (of government savings) by the end of the year, it's going to be a colossal failure," said Assemblyman Kevin O'Toole, R-Essex.
Democrats, meanwhile, have said it may take years for the reforms to take effect. They've aimed at slowing the rate of future tax hikes.
Most of the quantifiable solutions discussed so far have involved relatively small increments of savings — tens of millions each, or maybe $100 million for some fixes — on nearly $20 billion in statewide property tax bills.
Assemblyman John Wisniewski, D-Middlesex, said at a recent hearing that the route to lower property tax bills will likely require a combination of approaches.
"The solution to what we're looking at is not necessarily one large item. It's probably a basket of a lot of little items that, when you add them up, make a big difference," Wisniewski said.
Many of the controversial ideas that were believed to hold the most promise for large savings have quickly run into roadblocks.
An actuary told lawmakers that 401(k)-like retirement plans, which have taken hold in the private sector, won't save the state much money in the short term, and two separate legal opinions warned against trying to reduce existing workers' benefits.
Other experts said combining governments to save money won't go far, especially considering the time and effort involved.
William Dressel Jr., executive director of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities and one of the most vocal advocates of property tax reform, said lawmakers are learning firsthand how difficult the subject is, and he has doubts that they will have meaningful solutions in place by Nov. 15.
"There is no easy solution to dealing with a very complex problem," Dressel said. "I think they realize that there is
