The Corzine Administration

1-12-10 Moving on...'Budget plan a wrinkle for districts'

1-11-10 Transition News

1-5-10 GSCS: Update on January 4 Lame Duck Session

1-6-10 Race to the Top Plans on the move, not without conflict

12-27-09 'New Jersey competes for education reform stimulus money' (aka 'Race to the Top' funds)

12-23-09 Gannett article provides details on Gov. Corzine's proposal to use additional surplus in place of state aid

12-23-09 GSCS: Governor Corzine targets excess school surplus to replace state aid payments starting in Feb '10 - lame duck legislation anticipated

10-20-09 REMINDER: Commissioner Davy to be at 10-28 GSCS meeting in Atlantic City

9-13-09 As an issue for N.J.(Gubernatorial election), schools are in'

7-22-09 'State gives extra aid for schools an extraordinary boost'

6-19-09 a.m. GSCS 'Quick' FYI - State Budget Vote delayed to Thursday, June 25

6-16-09 News from Trenton on State Budget in Senate and Assembly Budget Committees yesterday

APPROPRIATIONS ACT FY2009-1020 as introduced

A4100-S2010 Appropriations Act 'Scoresheet' and Language Changes released

6-10-09 Education Week on Abbott Decision

6-9-09 COMMENTARY on Supreme Court Abbott school funding decisio

5-27-09 GSCS 18th ANNUAL MEETING - All INVITED GUESTS HAVE CONFIRMED, INCLUDING GOVERNOR CORZINE

5-19-09 Treasurer David Rousseau announces additional round of cuts to Gov's proposed State Budget FY2009-2010

4-5-09 The Record, Sunday April 5, Front Page Opinion

3-29-09 Record Editorial on Judge Doyne recommendations

3-16-09 EMAILNET

3-11-09 CORZINE BUDGET ADDRESS: STATE FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS A LITTLE MORE NOT LESS - FEDERAL TITLE 1 & IDEA INCREASES YET TO BE COUNTED - STATE SCHOOL AID FIGURES ON DEPT OF ED WEBSITE 1:30 TODAY - RELATED ARTICLES, MORE...

3-10-09 GOVERNOR TO DELIVER STATE BUDGET MESSAGE TODAY - SCHOOL AID FIGURES TO BE RELEASED BY THURSDAY LATEST

2-24-09 State Budget & Stimulus News of Note

2-19-09 Federal stimulus - information re: Education funding in 'State Fiscal Stabilization' part of the package

1-16-09 Today's news notes state budget waiting on Obama stimulus package

1-11-09 'Corzine State of State speech to put economy front & center'

12-28-08 NY Times 'Pension Fight Signals What Lies Ahead'

12-29-08 NJ to new leaders - Fund our schools

12-23-08 Governor faces hard choices in the New Year

12-21-08 GSCS EMAILNET - Excerpts

11-18-08 Ledger Online & 11-19 Star Ledger headline news

11-18-08 Supreme Court decides in favor of Abbott districts re new school funding law

11-5-08 Gov. Corzine U.S. Treasury Secretary?

11-5-08 Governor Corzine candidate for Secretary of U.S. Treasury per Ledger report

Conversation with the Commissioner in Atlantic City

Education Commissioner Lucille Davy at GSCS Open Mtg 10-29 in A.C.

9-24-08 Supreme Court hearing on constitutionality of School Funding Reform Act

8-29-08 'Newly hired teachers benefit from Corzine delay'

12-3-07 As details become clearer on the new funding plan, GSCS will report on its emerging position

11-20-07 RELEASE OF NEW SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA LIKELY TO BE DELAYED UNTIL AFTER THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

11-16-07 Governor Corzine's remarks on school funding to League of Municipalities

11-8-07 Governor & Legislative leadership agree to take up - and pass - funding formula in Lame Duck

10-23 Media reports & Trenton responses to date re GSCS Press Conf

9-29-07 The New York Times - Patience with Corzine Wears Thin

10-10-07 Key Questions for Legislative Candidates

10-12-07 Coach Corzine's tactic to win the game? Punt

In the news - Corzine on school aid formula & good news for urban schools

9-13-07Corzine adds school aid to the lame-duck agenda

8-10-07 'Standing 'O' greets Corzine as he hosts town hall mtg'

8-1-07 'Paterson isn't ready to gain control' & 7-29 'The Numbers still don't add up'

4-4-07 News articles, editorial & Op-Ed on bill signings for A1 and A4

3-25-07 New York Times on NJ Comparative Spending Guide, more on Gov putting off signing A1, Tax Caps & Rebate bill

3-22-07 THINGS CHANGE...Governor Corzine delays A1 becoming law

3-21-07 The Tax Cap-Credit bill, A1, can become law by Friday without Governor's signature

3-1-07 Emerging Devil showing up in the details

2-23-07 News Articles re Gov's Budget Proposal

2-22-07 GSCS EMAILNET re Gov's Budget Message

2-22-07 Governor Corzine's Budget Message today

2-16 to 2-19 New Articles of Note

2-14-07 GSCS letter to Gov Corzine & Commr of Education Davy - Request for State Aid FY0708

2-12-07 State School Aid - needed to offset property taxes now

2-9-07 GSCS EMAILNET MEMBER FYI on Trenton legislation Action

2-8-07 News artiles-editorial re Gov's annoucnement that there will not be a new school funding formula for FY0708

2-7-07 School funding, school audits - need for new formula underscored

2-6-07 Trenton Update - S19 Super Supt passes Senate; Tax Cap bill stalled; No funding formula in FY0708

2-1-07 Turnpike for sale, Gov - need funding formula, more

1-30-07 'Is Property Tax Plan Legal?'

1-30-07 Tax Caps bill, A1, passes Assembly late last night

1-25-07 GSCS: No School Aid = No Real Tax Relief...again

1-24-07 Quinnipiac Poll & School Construction woes for Corzine

1-21-07 Gannett article on 'property tax credit, annual cap vote due'

Trenton Update Jan 9-Jan 15, Gov's State of the State, more

1-8-07 Articles & Editorial talk about 'missing pieces' of tax reform proposal and note consequences

1-7-06 GSCS & HARD CAPS & IMPORTANT PIECES OF THE PUZZLE STILL MISSING

GSCS RESOLUTION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS 2007

1-5-07 Small-town officials protest consolidation

1-2-07 GSCS New Year's Resolution

12-19-06 Feedback - articles on school funding hearings yesterday

12-18-06 Sunday editorials - take of Property Tax session

12-15-06 EMAILNET Bills Held!

12-11-06 Trenton is in disarray - read news clip

12-8 & 12-9 News clips on Trenton machinations...

11-19-06 Sunday Press Articles & Commentaries

11-16-06 Governor Corzine's speech on Property Tax Address to League of Municipalities

11-10-06 NJ education chief vows urban support

11-11-06 EMAILNET Special Session Legislative Committees report Nov. 14 or 15

11-9-06 Public hearing on school consolidation tonight, 7 pm, at Freehold Borough Chambers, 51 Main St

11-9-06 Public hearing on school consolidation tonight, 7 pm, in Freehold

11-6-06 The need for special education funding to stay as a 'categorical' aid based on each students disability is real

11-4-06 Senate President & Assembly Speaker 'no new taxes'

10-25-06 Details on Corzine Administration's new funding formula starting to emerge

10-5-06 EMAILNET

10-5-06 Conversation on school funding, consolidation continues

School Construction: Third Report to Governor by Interagency Working Group

9-15-06 Star Ledger & AP - 3.25B suggested for school construction

9-15-06 Star Ledger - 3.25B suggested for school construction

August 2006 on - GSCS NOTEBOARD ON SPECIAL SESSION Committee meetings

7-29-06 School Funding formula draws mixed reactions

7-28-06 Gov to legislature: make history, cut taxes

7-27-06 Trenton begins its move to address property taxes

7-16-06 Lead economists address NJ's economy downswing

7-12-06 Column on State Budget legislator items

7-14-06 EMAILNET

7-12-06 It's Official - Governor appoints Lucille Davy as Education Commissioner

7-11-06 Talk of Special Session on Property Tax Reform

7-9&10-06 State Budget news articles -wrap up & news analyses

7-9-06 Sunday New York Times

7-8-06 FY07 Budget approved - 19.5 in spec ed grants stays in

7-7-06 EMAILNET - AGREEMENT ON STATE BUDGET REACHED, impt 'details' still being finalized

7-7-06 AGREEMENT ON STAE BUDGET REACHED, impt 'details' still being finalized

7-3-06 Roberts, Codey & Corzine still not on same page

6-30-06 State Budget news - as the dissonance must be resolved

6-29-06 Mirroring the elements, State Budget looking like a 'natural disaster'

6-15-06 Star Ledger, Gannet articles- Abbott advocates demand school reform at educ. dept

6-12-06 EMAILNET - Extraordinary Special Education student aid; FY07 Budget 'crunch' is on; news clips

6-6-06 Legislative Leaders announce initial plans for property tax reform

5-16-06 EMAILNET Action in Trenton

5-10-06 A Lot is going on - Major News fromTrenton

Gubernatorial Candidates' Education Plans announced September 05

Governor Corzine takes steps towards major policy initiatives.

4-8-07 Corzine Administration files brief with Supreme Court re Abbott funding

4-7-07 The Record

3-29-06 EMAILNET State Budget FY07 Hearings Update

3-28-06 GSCS testimony before Assembly Budget Comm today

3-24-06 EMAILNET FYI Update on Gov Corzine's Budget FY07

3-23-06 Corzine says some Abbotts can raise taxes

3-16-06 Gannett Press: Corzine wants to raise taxes, slash $2B

Governor's Budget message 1 pm 3-21-06

3-15-06 News articles on FY07

3-10-06 Star Ledger 'Time is ripe for poorer districts to contribute.

3-9-06 Governor speaks to S1701 at town meeting

3-7-06 More articles on the Gov's Budget Summit and School Board members fo to Trenton

3-7-06 Articles on Gov's Budget Summit and School Board members off to Trenton

12-14-05 Asbury ParkPress Editorial 'Re-assess the ABC's of School Funding' notes the Governor's role is critical in making positive change occur

Gubernatorial, Assembly District by District, County and Municipal voting breakdowns-results & formats for November 8 elections

2-2-06 GSCS HEADS UP re probable delay of Governor's Budget Message

Governor Corzine's Transition Team Reports

1-19-06 EMAILNET Quick Facts, On the Homepage Today

1-19-06 News Articles Trenton Times, The Record, Star Ledger

1-18-06 Star Ledger

Governor Corzine- Inaugural Address

1-15-06 The Record 2 Sunday Articles anticipating top issues confronting the Corzine administration

1-11-06 Star Ledger - Corzine Casts Wide Net for Cabinet

12-14-05 Asbury ParkPress Editorial 'Re-assess the ABC's of School Funding'

12-5-05 Governor-elect Corzine selects policy advisory groups

11-20-05 Sunday Star Ledger 'Corzine's risky promise to taxpayers

11-11-05 Trenton Times Corzine puts property taxes at the top of his agenda

11-9-05 The Record - Governor Elect can't claim a mandate

November 9 The Trenton Times - Corzine Triumphs

9-9-05 Trenton Times,Corzine Education Agenda

6-6-06 Legislative Leaders announce initial plans for property tax reform
CODEY, ROBERTS ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR SPECIAL SESSION ON PROPERTY TAXES Legislature to Convene Bicameral, Bipartisan Joint Committees in July; Final Action on Property Tax Relief Measures Expected by End of Year.

June 6, 2006

LEGISLATIVE BICAMERAL PLAN FOR PROPERTY TAX REFORM–SUMMER 06

1. CODEY, ROBERTS ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR SPECIAL SESSION ON PROPERTY TAXES

Legislature to Convene Bicameral, Bipartisan Joint Committees in July; Final Action on Property Tax Relief Measures Expected by End of Year

TRENTON - Senate President Richard J. Codey and Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr., today announced plans for an unprecedented special legislative session that would work throughout the summer and fall with the goal of enacting property tax reforms by the end of this year.

The announcement lays out an unparalleled framework to bring about legislative measures and corresponding action aimed at reducing the property tax burdens of New Jersey residents. It would mark the first time in state history that the Legislature will create special bicameral committees tasked with looking at the property tax problem from all angles.

"For too long property owners have been getting blitzed with taxes advancing further and further. It's time that we not only hold the line, but push them back," said Codey (D- Essex). "Unless we attempt to create greater efficiency and reduce spending at the local levels, we will only be chasing our tails."

"Since New Jersey's homeowners don't get a vacation from high property taxes, the Legislature shouldn't get one either," said Roberts (D-Camden). "Solving the problem of sky-high property taxes cannot be left to one person, one party, or one half of the Legislature. Today we are launching a full-court press to make major repairs to New Jersey's broken property tax system."

The special legislative session process would begin in July when Governor Corzine would frame out the goals and expectations in an address to a joint session of the Legislature.

Following the Governor's address, the Senate and Assembly both would pass joint resolutions to create four bicameral, bipartisan joint committees:

Joint Committee on School Funding. This panel would expand upon the Assembly task force that Speaker Roberts initially proposed in his recent CORE Reform Plan. This joint committee would seek to implement reforms to the current school funding formula to mitigate disparities and inequalities between urban and suburban/rural schools, among other changes;

Joint Committee on Benefits Reform. The committee would use the recommendations from the Pension and Benefits Review Task Force, convened last year by Governor Codey, as the basis for legislative proposals to end abuses of the public benefit system and control benefits costs statewide;

Joint Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services. This joint committee would serve as a launch pad for drafting measures to promote service sharing at all levels of government and examine potential consolidation of certain state government functions;

Joint Committee on a Citizens' Convention and Constitutional Reform. The committee would address property tax issues that require constitutional remedies with the goal of laying the groundwork for a Citizen's Convention that would be put to the voters on the November 2007 ballot.

The joint committees would immediately begin work on developing legislative proposals, with a deadline for completing their work by September 30. The proposals would be forwarded to the Legislature's standing committees with the goal of achieving final legislative action by the end of the year.

Codey and Roberts said the plan was created in consultation with Governor Jon S. Corzine, who has called for both a special session and constitutional convention to tackle the state's decades-old problem of repressively high property taxes.

The leaders noted that the measures would be crafted jointly by both the Senate and Assembly, providing insurance against legislative gridlock and increasing the session's chances of success.

Unlike past special sessions - which historically have dissolved into political grandstanding - the Codey/Roberts plan's bicameral and bipartisan approach would ensure careful deliberation and discussion of all ideas.

"History has shown us that most partisan legislative initiatives are rarely successful," said Codey. "Both houses working together, side by side, will be far more efficient and more meaningful."

"In the end, taxpayers won't especially care whether this is called a 'special session,' 'special committees,' or 'special process' unless there are real results," said Roberts. "This must be a process of meeting deadlines, not dead ends."