Joint Legislative Committee on Public School Funding Reform

WOLFE SAYS SCHOOL FUNDING FIGURES ARE
TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE

"It's a token increase. Governor Corzine has done nothing more than throw us a bone," said Assemblyman David Wolfe in response to the release today of the administration's state education aid figures for Fiscal Year 2008.

CARDINALE AND WOLFE SAY SCHOOL FUNDING REFORM REPORT MISSES THE MARK IN KEY AREAS

MINORITY REPORT CALLS FOR EQUITABLE SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA, LESS COURT INVOLVEMENT, AND GREATER FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY

The Republican members of the Joint Legislative Committee on Public School Funding Reform today said that the final report issued by that committee failed to confront critical state spending issues that have deprived hundreds of school districts of adequate funding in recent years leading to an explosion in local property tax bills.

**MEDIA ADVISORY**

SCHOOL FUNDING REFORM JOINT COMMITTEE TO VOTE ON FINAL REPORT MONDAY

TRENTON - The Joint Legislative Committee on Public School Funding Reform is scheduled to meet on Monday to vote to approve the panel's final report and recommendations, which include setting the framework for a new school funding formula in the State of New Jersey and establishing accountability benchmarks to safeguard education dollars.

The Committee will meet at 2:30 PM on Monday, November 27, 2006 in Committee Room 11, 4th Floor Statehouse Annex in Trenton.

PANTER APPLAUDS REFORM EFFORT'S INCLUSION OF CURBS ON SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR ABUSES

(TRENTON) - Assemblyman Mike Panter today said he is encouraged co-chairs in the legislative special session on property tax reform embraced provisions of legislation he sponsored to curb contract and pension abuses involving high-ranking school administrators.

ADLER, CONAWAY CALL FOR FAIR FINANCING MODEL,
TRANSPARENCY TO CREATE PROPERTY TAX SAVINGS
School Reform Committee Co-Chairs Propose End to Divisive 'Abbott' Label,
Enhanced Protections Against Wasteful Spending

(TRENTON) – The co-chairmen of the Joint Legislative Committee on Public School Funding Reform released their recommendations today, calling for an entirely new system for financing public schools, enhanced protections against wasteful administrative spending, and greater authority for state officials to intervene in troubled schools to lessen local districts' over-reliance on property taxes to fund public education.

DORIA: ACCURATE PER PUPIL COSTS CRITICAL TO PROPER SCHOOL FUNDING

TRENTON - Senator Joseph V. Doria, one of the members of the Joint Legislative Committee on Public School Funding Reform, made the follow statement today following today's hearing in which the Committee heard testimony on efforts of the department to determine a per pupil cost of education:

"Establishing a fair level of per pupil educational spending is in my mind the most important issue we've looked at so far.

CARDINALE: ACT NOW ON PROPERTY TAX REFORM
Real, Meaningful Solutions Need to Be Debated

Senator Gerald Cardinale, (R-39), a member of the Joint Legislative Committee on Public School Funding Reform issued the following statement regarding the direction of the Committee after the first month of meetings.

August 30, 2006
Assemblyman Richard Merkt/908-850-1595(ext. 520)
Assembly Republican Office/609-292-5339

MERKT ASKS INSPECTOR GENERAL TO LOOK INTO QUESTIONS ABOUT UNION CITY SCHOOLS

QUESTIONS ABOUT PATRONAGE, CONTRIBUTIONS UNANSWERED

Assemblyman Richard Merkt today sent a letter to New Jersey Inspector General Mary Jane Cooper calling for her office to look into questions about the Union City school district that were raised at yesterday’s meeting of the Joint Legislative Committee on Public School Funding Reform.

"Clearly there were questions raised yesterday about how state taxpayer dollars are being spent by the Union City school district that went unanswered," said Merkt, R-Morris. "We need to get answers to these serious questions and I think an independent investigation is the best way to do so."

At Tuesday's school funding hearing questions were raised about allegations that the Union City school district has become a patronage haven for the politically connected.

Specific instances were cited, including that of a city commissioner being appointed to a newly created position in the district. This line of questioning was cut off by the committee chairman who said it wasn’t the focus of those hearings.

"These are very serious questions that impact the amount of money state taxpayers are paying to support schools in Union City," Merkt writes in his letter. "I think we need to get answers and I believe your office is uniquely positioned to get those answers."

A copy of the letter is attached.

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Senator Gerald Cardinale, (R-39), a member of the Joint Legislative Committee on Public School Funding Reform issued the following statement in response to a presentation today by the Superintendent of the Union City School District.

I applaud the success of certain aspects of the Union City School System, but there’s another side. There are many who contend that Abbott money has created a cesspool of corruption in Union City schools.

Many employees are hired because of their political connections to the governing authority of Union City. The Union City School Board is composed almost entirely of mayoral appointees who hold additional political positions in government and are subject to the influence of the political majority. They have 300 lunch room aides, and only months ago a newly elected Union City Commissioner was hired by the school system in a $75,000 position created specifically for him. This position had previously not existed.

It’s unfortunate that at today’s hearing the committee chairs would not allow me to continue my line of questioning that would have exposed the other side of Abbott funding.

WOLFE ASKS FOR INFO TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF ABATEMENTS AND EXEMPTIONS ON PROPERTY TAXES

TAX EXEMPTIONS TO DEVELOPERS ARE COSTING THE STATE & POOR NEIGHBORHOODS HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS