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P.O. Box 909 ● Trenton, NJ 08605-0909 ● Phone: 609.695.7600 ● Fax: 609.695.0413 ● Web: www.njsba.org/PI |
TRENTON, March 10, 2009—The executive director of the New Jersey School Boards Association today expressed appreciation to Gov. Jon Corzine for giving education aid top priority in his proposed 2009-2010 budget. In his address to a joint session of the Legislature this afternoon, Corzine proposed an overall increase of $300 million in direct aid to school districts—one of few budget areas that would not experience state funding cuts next year. The governor used approximately $1 billion in federal stabilization funding, provided under the economic stimulus plan, to bolster anticipated revenues in his proposal. “An increase in state aid will help maintain education programs for school children. It can also buffer homeowners from sharp increases in school property taxes,” said Marie S. Bilik, the organization’s executive director. However, she added, “To assess the true impact of the proposed budget on school districts, we will have to see the actual allocations of state aid to individual school districts, which will be issued later this week. “While the proposed budget should enable local school boards to avoid severe financial hardship in 2009-2010, we face an uncertain future,” Bilik continued. “The state must still deal with issues involving the under-funding of public employee pensions, the high cost of health benefits and gaps in revenue that might remain after the federal stimulus monies run out.” ********
The New Jersey School Boards Association, a federation of district boards of education, advocates the interests of school districts, trains local school board members, and provides resources for the advancement of public education.
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