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“N.J. budget approved by Senate, Assembly committees- A revised state budget that uses a last-minute windfall to preserve taxpayer rebates for households making up to $75,000 cleared the budget committees in the Senate and Assembly today, setting up final votes for Thursday. (Reitmeyer and Heininger, The Star-Ledger)”
“GOP gov. candidate Chris Christie condemns N.J. public schools as Gov. Corzine heralds system ..As it usually does, education is emerging as a key issue in New Jersey's gubernatorial race. But in 2009, there's a twist -- as seen by the candidates' appearances today. “(AP)
GOP gov. candidate Chris Christie condemns N.J. public schools as Gov. Corzine heralds system, by Associated Press
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“N.J. budget approved by Senate, Assembly committees- A revised state budget that uses a last-minute windfall to preserve taxpayer rebates for households making up to $75,000 cleared the budget committees in the Senate and Assembly today, setting up final votes for Thursday. (Reitmeyer and Heininger, The Star-Ledger)” |
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Revised state budget, with rebates, sails toward a final vote Print June 23, 2009 BY JOHN REITMEYER AND CLAIRE HEININGER NorthJersey.com STATE HOUSE BUREAU/The Star Ledger, The Record Property tax rebates will be cut, but not nearly as much as Governor Corzine proposed last month now that lawmakers have agreed to use money from a tax amnesty program to pay for them. A new state budget that would limit the state property tax rebate program to only households making $75,000 or less cleared budget committees in the Senate and Assembly on Monday, setting up a final vote scheduled for Thursday. Both committees also passed a new version of an economic stimulus bill that supporters say will create jobs, but critics claim gives away too much in tax breaks and perks. The latest version of the budget now includes $404 million added to the rebate program only after the state Department of Treasury tallied all the revenue collected through a tax amnesty program that ran through June 15. Governor Corzine had proposed a month ago that the rebate program be suspended for all but senior citizens and disabled residents to help offset record revenue losses brought on by the bad economy. But the governor, who is running for re-election this year, announced last week that the tax amnesty program was generating much more than the $200 million that was originally projected and that he wanted to see the funds used for property tax relief. “Whenever you can provide tax relief back to the people who need it most, it’s a good thing,” said Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney, D-Gloucester. Even with the added money, the rebate program will still be a pared down version of the one lawmakers created in 2007. Households earning up to $250,000 received rebates two years ago and those earning as much as $150,000 did so last year. This year’s program would cut the rebates for households making more than $75,000. Only seniors, the disabled and households earning up to $50,000 will get the same rebate as last year and tenants are left out. “It’s a tough budget, even with the additional money,” Sweeney said. Republicans on the Senate committee highlighted several tax increases that are still a part of the new budget, including those on higher incomes, cigarettes, wine and hard alcohol. “We’re not restoring (the rebates) to the majority of the middle class,” Oroho said. In the Assembly committee, they also questioned the timing of the dramatic tax amnesty revenue announcement last week, just hours before lawmakers were scheduled to consider a budget that would have cut nearly all rebates. The new budget bill, meanwhile, will also spare many more property owners from a proposed elimination of the property tax deduction on state income forms that is included in the new budget. The latest version of the appropriations bill would allow property owners who earn up to $250,000 annually to still deduct their property taxes, up to $5,000. Corzine had proposed eliminating the property tax deduction for all households earning more than $150,000. “We’ve always said that we would provide as much property tax relief as possible and this revised budget allows us to honor that Democratic commitment to put property taxpayers first,” said Assembly Budget Committee Chairman Lou Greenwald, D-Camden. All 80 seats in the Assembly are also up for grabs this year. Final action on the new state budget, now totaling about $29 billion, is scheduled for Thursday in both the Senate and Assembly. A $28.6 billion version of the budget had been up for approval on June 18, but lawmakers postponed the vote after learning about the additional tax amnesty revenue the night before. The state constitution requires a balanced budget in place by June 30. The economic stimulus bill, meanwhile, could also be up for final action on Thursday. In the Senate committee Monday, real estate developers, business lobbyists and mayors from urban areas testified in support of the wide-ranging stimulus bill, which offers tax breaks and other incentives. "This will be invaluable to us," said Newark deputy mayor Stefan Pryor, calling the incentives "among the best toolboxes in the United States -- one of the most potent bundles of incentives to create investment." But car rental companies objected to a higher tax on airport rentals included in the bill and environmental lobbyists said asked for a delay. They said it should look more like President Obama's federal stimulus package, with required environmental reviews and strengthened green building standards. Bill sponsor Sen. Raymond Lesniak, D-Union, said the bill will spur billions of dollars in investments and create tens of thousands of jobs. "I don't know if I agree with every aspect of this bill myself, but I do agree with 95 percent of it," Lesniak said. “Clearly, New Jersey needs a change of direction, not only to climb out of the recession, but to lead the nation in job creation.” E-mail: reitmeyer@northjersey.com |
“GOP gov. candidate Chris Christie condemns N.J. public schools as Gov. Corzine heralds systemAs it usually does, education is emerging as a key issue in New Jersey's gubernatorial race. But in 2009, there's a twist -- as seen by the candidates' appearances today. “(AP)
GOP gov. candidate Chris Christie condemns N.J. public schools as Gov. Corzine heralds system, by The Associated Press
June 23, 2009 [print]
Chris Christie today in Camden discussed the failures of the public school system in urban areas, in an effort to promote state-funded vouchers. As it usually does, education is emerging as a key issue in New Jersey's gubernatorial race. But in 2009, there's a twist -- as seen by the candidates' appearances today.
Republican Chris Christie was in Camden, the state's poorest city, addressing a graduation ceremony for students who said with pride that they'd grown up in "the 'hood." Meanwhile incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine appeared in a suburb with U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan.
Full Star-Ledger coverage of the New Jersey Governor's Race
Typically, a New Jersey Republican would play to suburban audiences, while a Democrat would focus on inner cities. But in this case, the venues mirror where the candidates' key education policies play best.
Christie has been talking about failures of many urban school districts, while Corzine is promoting the state's overall school system as among the nation's best. In many ways, national data on school quality support both positions.
Christie is promoting state-funded vouchers that students in failing schools could use to pay tuition at private schools or at public schools in other communities. He also wants more charter schools to open in the cities.
"These kids are trapped in what everyone would agree is a failed school district," Christie said after the ceremony at the Camden Educational Resource Network, which recognized about 200 students who had completed a home-school program. Most of the students previously had gone to Camden public schools.
"We were nothing, we were dropouts," said graduate Natalia Fontanez, who addressed her class. "People looked down on us. Now, who's wearing the cap and gowns?"
Christie said his policies would give the students more options and pressure public schools to do better.
During the ceremony, school organizer and community activist Angel Cordero endorsed Christie.
"He cares for education for folks like us," Cordero said. "He believes that every one of us should have a quality education. He believes that if that the school is not good enough for you, you should have a right to go to another school."
After an appearance with Duncan in Fanwood, a well-off northern New Jersey suburb, Corzine objected to some of Christie's criticism and said he's focused on increasing educational standards.
The governor said he also wants to close bad schools and open more charter schools -- though he does not support vouchers.
"We right now are raising graduation standards, the standards for math and science in each of our high school curriculums," he said.
Corzine's campaign also has been boasting about his main educational accomplishment, which clearly plays better in the suburbs.
Last year, he overhauled the way the state subsidizes school districts, ending a system that gave preferential treatment to the schools in Camden and 30 other low-income cities.
Under the new system, all schools are funded under the same formula, which heavily weighs the number of low-income students in the district.
The biggest funding increases have gone to suburban districts with relatively high numbers of lower-income students. Because of the changes, some of the urban districts could see their state funding drop in coming years if their enrollments decline.
