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Neither Corzine nor Forrester say much about schools funding BY JONATHAN TAMARI GANNETT STATE BUREAU Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 10/6/05 [GSCS participated in press briefing noted in this Gannett article; the briefing was presented by the Ad Hoc School Finance Discussion Group, chaired by Mr. Ernest Reock.]
TRENTON — With skyrocketing property taxes ranking as the top election issue in many voters' minds, both candidates for governor have touted their plans to address a symptom of the problem — the annual bills — but neither has said much about changing one of the main causes of high taxes: funding for public schools.
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Press of A.C.TRENTON-A majority of voters would support a $2.5 billion bond to fund construction at public colleges, but they might put building more elementary and high schools first. Neither Corzine nor Forrester say much about schools funding Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 10/6/05 BY JONATHAN TAMARI TRENTON — With skyrocketing property taxes ranking as the top election issue in many voters' minds, both candidates for governor have touted their plans to address a symptom of the problem — the annual bills — but neither has said much about changing one of the main causes of high taxes: funding for public schools. Lawmakers, state policy makers and advocates on all sides of the issue say a change is needed, and probably near, but neither Democrat Jon S. Corzine nor Republican Doug Forrester has said much about the sticky problem of school funding, which has often pit money for education against rising taxes. The issue ties into taxes because schools are mainly paid for by local property taxes. With a handful of poor, urban schools receiving the majority of state aid in recent years, other districts complain of being left out and facing higher tax burdens. "It's an extremely complicated, complex issue probably requiring a lot more money," said Melvin L. Wyns, the former director of school funding for the state Department of Education. He was one of several speakers who laid out the questions surrounding school funding at a briefing Wednesday hosted by scholars and advocates on the issue. "Within the near future, attention almost certainly again will be directed toward the creation of a more comprehensive system," said Herbert Green, executive director of the Public Education Institute. In results released last week from the Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey poll, 26 percent of voters said property taxes are the issue not being adequately addressed they want to hear more about. Twelve percent named education or schools. But neither campaign has proposed a way to change the funding system. Corzine, in a statement issued by his campaign, said he supports the underlying principle of the Abbott v. Burke rulings by the state Supreme Court, which have led to increased funding and improved programs for 31 poor, urban school districts. "A child's ZIP code should not determine the quality of their education," Corzine said in a statement. "I also believe we ought to review all aspects of Abbott implementation on an ongoing basis to make sure we are meeting the needs of our children." Corzine's campaign would not comment on specific questions about altering the state's school funding formula, which has been ignored for years. Forrester spokeswoman Sherry Sylvester said the formula needs "more evaluation." Forrester wants to see more efficient use of school money in urban areas, she said, but also did not provide specifics. "In many of our schools, particularly in urban areas, we're not providing the kind of education we want to be providing," Sylvester said. The question of education quality and costs also goes to school construction. The state Schools Construction Corp. has spent $8.6 billion of construction money faster than expected and many projects remain undone. Advocates for both Abbott and other districts said Wednesday that more work — and money — is needed. Both candidates said the state should fulfill its promises to districts that expect financial support. Forrester would scrap the SCC entirely and seek voter approval for more money for the projects, Sylvester said. Corzine said he would reform the agency and subject it to audits, but his campaign would not say where money for additional projects would come from. In recent years the state has ignored its own school funding law, and property tax levies per pupil have shot up in all areas except in the so-called "Abbott" districts,according to Rutgers University Professor Emeritus Ernest C. Reock Jr. As state aid has been stagnant, lawmakers have carved out special designations for their own areas to get more money, leading to more disparities. Earlier this year a narrowly crafted bill gave an additional $20 million to five school districts, and rural schools are also pressing the state for more aid. "Whoever shouts the loudest and has enough political clout will have a state aid rule for their kind of district," Reock said. ——- The amount of state aid for public schools has a direct impact on property taxes. While Jon Corzine and Doug Forrester have detailed property-tax platforms, they have said far less about how they would fund K-12 education. ——- The voter registration deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 11, for people to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 8 general election. To register, a person must be a Those seeking to register to vote must not be on parole, probation or serving a sentence for conviction on an indictable offense under state or federal law. Residents may register to vote in person, with their municipal clerk or county commissioner of registration, or by mail. Registration forms can be found online at www.njelections.org, at Motor Vehicle Commission agencies or at other state offices. Jonathan Tamari: jtamari@gannett.com ________________________________________________________________________ 10-06-05 The Press of Voters support spending for college construction, poll shows By DIANE D'AMICO Education Writer, (609) 272-7241 Published: Thursday, October 6, 2005 Updated: Thursday, October 6, 2005
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Education placed third, below property taxes and corruption as the primary issues facing
The telephone poll of 770 likely voters was conducted Sept. 20. It indicates that while voters believe colleges are important, what they support, and what they might be willing to vote and pay for, are not always the same.
While 58 percent of respondents said they would support a $2 billion bond issue for college construction, only 50 percent said they would definitely vote for the bond if it were on the 2006 ballot.
By a 53 percent to 14 percent ratio, respondents were more likely to support a new bond if the funds went to building more local public schools. Eighteen percent said they would support both, and only 3 percent said they would not support either.
NJASCU spokesman Paul Shelly speculated that people see a more direct relationship between state funding for local public schools and their property taxes.
"They believe a bond could lower their local taxes," he said.
The large general support could be good news for the state Legislature, which is grappling with how to fund more public school construction now that the $8.6 billion school construction bond has run out.
Those polled did prefer spending the money on college construction rather than putting it into transportation projects or stem-cell research. And a wide majority, 74 percent, said spending bond money on expanding college opportunity is a good use - as long as the college boards of trustees managed the money.
Only 12 percent said they would trust the governor and Legislature to decide how best to use the money. Sixty-eight percent said they would trust the boards of trustees at the colleges.
The colleges have been lobbying for a new construction bond to deflect the cost from student tuition and fees. Enrollments are expected to increase steadily for several more years, and colleges have been expanding to meet the need. Those construction costs have been covered by tuition increases and new or increased fees charged to students.
