Increasing shared services among school districts and municipalities will become a key element in controlling government expenditures and local property taxes, Governor Corzine noted in remarks to municipal officials the day after his inauguration. NJSBA has offered its assistance to the governor and the state Legislature in developing an incentive program to encourage consolidation of services.

“State government has the obligation to fulfill to the greatest degree possible, the aid levels under the Comprehensive Educational Improvement and Financing Act of 1996,” stated Edwina M. Lee, NJSBA executive director, in a February 1 letter to Corzine. “Equally important, however, is school districts’ responsibility to identify and implement methods to save taxpayers money and direct limited resources to classroom purposes.”

Long-standing Support  Last month, the NJSBA Board of Directors approved a new strategic plan that encompasses numerous activities to explore local school district financial efficiency and shared services. Activities include establishment of a data bank on best practices, as well as analysis of statutes and regulations to identify changes that would advance shared services.

NJSBA, however, is not a newcomer to the effort, Lee explained. For more than 20 years, the Association has advocated shared services among school districts. Its efforts have ranged from a venture with the New Jersey State League of Municipalities in the early 1980s to a 1995 study on shared services in the schools.

Increasing Relevance  On January 18, Governor Corzine cited the need for local government to find new ways to share services during remarks to the State League of Municipalities. The shared-service concept became even more relevant last Thursday when Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts called for fiscal restraint by the Legislature in relation to the state’s $5 billion to $6 billion budget deficit and noted that, until the governor fully assesses the state’s budget situation, he would post no bills that would result in additional state spending. Significantly, Roberts also directed the Assembly Budget Committee to identify savings and efficiency in government.

Click here to view NJSBA’s letter to Governor Corzine.