| |
Professional courtesy to GSCS from PPAG (Princeton Public Affairs Group)
Princeton Public Affairs Group, Inc.
(Professional Courtesy to GSCS)
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS • PUBLIC AFFAIRS • GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY
Special Session on Property Tax Reform
Update XXXII
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
The hearing allowed residents to directly address the Joint Legislative Committee on Public School Funding Reform, one of four panels the Legislature created for its special session on property tax reform.
Co-chair of the committee, Senator John Adler remarked that he was eager to hear the ideas of taxpayers who have every right to expect real and lasting action.
The other co-chair, Assemblyman Herb Conaway, also noted that he welcomed all North Jersey property taxpayers to help the committee tackle the property tax problems exacerbated by our current school funding policies, and that the ideas of New Jersey's taxpayers are just as important as testimony from experts and academics.
Many of the concerns raised at the hearing were shared among several of the speakers. The issues discussed in relation to school funding included the need for additional funding for special education, the support for S1332, the urban scholarship program, the savings provided to the state through funding private schools, the benefits that come from direct funding and when the money follows the student, and the need for annual audits of public schools.
Over seventy people signed up to testify at the hearing. In relation to the previous public hearing, where most of the speakers were representatives from special interest groups, this hearing, a majority of the speakers were taxpayers or educators.
The special interest groups that testified at the hearing included:
- New Jersey Public Charter Schools
- Vocational High School Students
- Council Member at Rivers Edge
- Representative of the
- Association of Children for
- Director of the
The committee began examining the state's school funding formula in August. The panel has until November 15 to craft reforms to the public school aid program that could maximize taxpayer relief by providing assistance based on student needs rather than geographic location, among other changes.
The next Joint Legislative Committee on Public School Funding Reform will be held back in
If you have any questions please contact Amy Dempster at dempster@ppag.com or (609) 396-8838.
Special Session on Property Tax Reform
Update XXXIII
Tuesday, October 18, 2006
The Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation & Shared Services met today. The committee heard invited testimony on the following bills:
A-54 (Roberts) - Revises title and duties of county superintendent of schools.
S-577 (Kyrillos) – Establishes County School Business Boards and Abbott Regional School Business Boards to assume certain school district business services and functions.
S-2266 (Smith) – Provides for submission to voters in each county a binding referendum on the establishment of a county school district to govern and operate all public schools in the county. (pending intro & referral)
S-2267 (Smith) - Establishes governance structure for a county school district. (pending intro & referral)
The committee heard testimony from The New Jersey Education Association, New Jersey Association of School Business Officials, Principles and Supervisors Association, New Jersey School Board Association, Garden State Association of School Districts, and the New Jersey Association of School Administrators. The consensus among the groups that offered testimony was that there are places where shared services can be implemented and result it some cost savings but all decisions surrounding regionalization should be made locally by the constituents in municipalities. They all emphasized their internal goal of preserving educational quality as well as community input.
Many of the groups that testified voiced their opposition to Speaker Robert’s sponsored bill revising the title and duties of county superintendent of schools. The concern was that a so called “Super” superintendent could not handle the scope of a consolidation and do the job justice. The NJ School Board Association also voiced their opposition to moving the school board elections.
New Jersey Association of School Administrators asked that each proposal warrant careful consideration stating that each bill would radically alter public school education. Along with the other groups they offered their support to work with the committee going forward.
The next meeting of The Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services will be on Thursday, October 26, 2006 from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM at the
If you have any questions please contact Lorna O’Hara at ohara@ppag.com or (609) 396-8838.
