Quality Public Education for All New Jersey Students

 

 
     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
7-8-06 FY07 Budget approved - 19.5 in spec ed grants stays in
Governor Corzines' recommendation for $19.5M in special education grant funding remains in final budget.Go to this link to see copy of the final budget bill for FY07, aid for schools starts on page 49 of this PDF format, under Dept of Education: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2006/Bills/A3500/4900_I1.PDF (click on "More" below for actual hyperlink)

Youcan also get into the the budget bill by going to the New Jersey Legislature website and keying in A4900, the bill number.

NJ governor ends government shutdown after lawmakers pass budget

Lawmakers pass budget; casinos to open by noon

Go to this link to see copy of the final budget bill for FY07, aid for schools starts on page 49 of this PDF format, under Dept of Education:

 

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2006/Bills/A3500/4900_I1.PDF

 

 

NJ governor ends government shutdown after lawmakers pass budget

7/8/2006, 7:05 a.m. ET

By TOM HESTER Jr.

The Associated Press

 

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine issued an executive order early Saturday ending a weeklong state government shutdown.

The governor acted minutes after lawmakers approved a $30.9 billion budget that increases the state sales tax, ending a stalemate that also forced the closing of the Atlantic City casinos.

"I now feel comfortable we can begin the orderly restoring of the business of government," Corzine said.

The 12 casinos, which closed Wednesday, were prepared to resume operations around 7 a.m., Corzine said. Lottery ticket sales were to resume Saturday morning, and state parks and beaches were to reopen on Sunday. On Monday, 45,000 furloughed state workers could also return to work, although exact plans haven't been announced. Motor vehicle offices and vehicle inspection stations were to reopen on Monday.

The Senate voted 23-17 to approve the budget at 4:20 a.m. The Assembly followed suit at 5:40 a.m., by a 44-35 vote. Both votes were largely along party lines.

The budget reflects a compromise reached Thursday between Corzine and legislative leaders that will increase the state sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent and set aside half the proceeds for property tax relief.

Corzine said he wasn't sure exactly when he would sign the budget, saying he wanted to take some time to review it. He hoped to do it Saturday.

"We're going to do a thorough and professional job — as good as anyone can possibly do operating on three hours sleep three nights in a row," Corzine said.

The budget crisis began when Democrats who control the state Assembly balked at the Democratic governor's proposal to increase the sales tax. The resulting impasse caused the Legislature to miss the July 1 deadline for passing a new budget. With no authority to spend money, Corzine ordered nonessential government services suspended.

Under the compromise, Corzine and Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr. agreed to increase the sales tax, but set aside half the new money to help relieve the state's highest-in-the-nation property taxes. Corzine had wanted all of the $1.1 billion from the sales tax increase to go toward helping close a $4.5 billion budget deficit.

"With the budget crisis finally behind us, it is imperative that we move quickly to address the No. 1 concern of residents: New Jersey's highest-in-the-nation property taxes," said Roberts, who on Friday introduced constitutional amendments to ensure money from the sales tax increase is used for property tax relief.

The sales tax increase will cost the average New Jersey family $275 per year, according to fiscal experts.

Some drama was sparked in the Assembly at 3:30 a.m. when the compromise nearly crumbled. Assemblymen Joseph Vas and John Wisniewski, both D-Middlesex, refused to vote on the bill to boost the sales tax, leaving the vote board at 39-38 for 10 minutes. After goading from several Assembly Democratic leaders, they simultaneously voted to approve the bill to enact New Jersey's first sales tax increase since 1990.

"This budget is far from perfect, but it is good for a state that needs to get its financial house in order, good for the thousands of workers and businesses hurt by the shutdown, and good for homeowners in need of property tax relief," said Sen. Shirley Turner, D-Mercer.

In addition to the sales tax increase, the budget also contains new taxes or tax increases on corporate income, businesses in urban redevelopment zones, cigarettes, energy facilities, rental cars, HMO premiums, snuff tobacco, commercial property sales, fur clothing and expensive motor vehicles.

It also extends the sales tax to more items and takes $50 million from a fund generated by temporary disability benefit taxes and instead use the money to pay for state spending.

In all, the budget plan has about $1.8 billion in tax increases.

The budget bill also contains about $300 million in special projects added late Friday by Democratic legislators, including many that would help municipalities and organizations represented by Democratic leaders.

That, and the failure to get a budget passed by the July 1 deadline, drew the scorn of Republican lawmakers.

Assemblyman Joseph Malone, R-Burlington, called the budget standoff and final product "an insult to the intelligence of residents in the state of New Jersey."

"This was all about Democrats behaving badly," said Assemblyman Kevin O'Toole, R-Bergen, who asked Corzine to veto the special projects.

As the Senate budget panel discussed legislation related to the sales tax increase Friday night, Senate Republican Leader Leonard Lance cautioned his colleagues against enacting "unwise public policy," saying, "We will regret what may occur here this evening."

The casino closings, the first in the 28-year history of legal gambling in New Jersey, occurred because the gambling halls are required by law to have state inspectors on the premises.

Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

© 2006 NJ.com All Rights Reserved.

 

Lawmakers pass budget; casinos to open by noon
The $30.9 billion state budget that includes New Jersey's first sales tax increase in 16 years passed both houses of the legislature this morning and heads to Gov. Jon Corzine's desk for his signature.

Corzine signed an executive order just after 6 a.m. that ends the first government shutdown in the state's history and Atlantic City's 12 casinos should be open by noon, according to the governor's spokesman, Anthony Coley.
The state lottery is expected to be back in operation sometime today, with state parks and beaches opening on Sunday.
The governor signed an executive order that called for the shutdown of government services on July 1 when lawmakers failed to pass a budget.
Corzine and legislative leaders came to an agreement in principle on Thursday on a new spending plan, but negotiations bogged down Friday as lawmakers bickered over individual items in the spending plan. A preliminary analysis shows more than $310 million of legislative additions, often called “Christmas tree” items, are included in the deal. These items are cash grants that are sent back to home districts by lawmakers. ¶
“This is the Atkins diet Trenton-style. A rush for pork,” said Assemblyman Kevin O’Toole (R-Essex). “I’m not shocked we’re standing here. People are still wrangling for the last nickel they can get for their districts or themselves. And we’ve been out of business for seven days. That’s shameful.” ¶

The state Treasury officials released several details of the new budget, which would raise the sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent but devote half of the increase to a yet-to-be-determined form of property tax relief. The increase, officials said, will take effect July 15. ¶

The budget includes: ¶
‡¤Non-senior homeowners who earn more than $70,000 will get only $250 rebates - $100 less than last year. ¶
In his March 1 budget address, Corzine had promised to increase all rebates by 10 percent from last year. He already had abandoned a campaign promise to double the rebates. But even his more modest goal has now fallen victim to other budget priorities. ¶

‡¤Smokers will pay 17.5 cents more per pack in taxes, giving New Jersey the highest cigarette tax in the nation. ¶

‡¤People will pay the new 7 percent sales tax on magazines they buy in stores, but not magazine subscriptions. ¶

‡¤Small-business owners who now pay a $500 minimum corporate tax will face an increase. ¶
‡¤A new tax will make fur coats even pricier. ¶
‡¤A one-time “luxury” tax would be imposed on cars and trucks costing $45,000 or more and vehicles that get 19 miles per gallon or less. ¶

‡¤While deep cuts to higher education became a major issue, lawmakers restored only $111 million of the $308 million cut for colleges and universities. At the same time, they approved about $150 million in additional municipal aid. ¶
-- Contributed by Josh Margolin