The fate of Governor Corzine’s proposed $30.9-billion state budget  for 2006-07 is in the hands of the state Legislature.  Senate and Assembly committees have scheduled an extensive roster of hearings on various portions of the finance plan through early June. 

Education Hearings  Two hearings will focus on recommendations for the state Department of Education, an area that includes state aid to education:

• Assembly Budget Committee, Tuesday, May 9, 10 a.m., State House Annex, Room 11.
  
  
• Senate Revenue Finance and Appropriations Committee, Monday, May 15, 10 a.m., Annex, Room 4.

During the hearings, the commissioner of education normally appears before the committees and responds to members’ questions.

Funding Levels  The administration’s proposed 2006-07 budget would represent the fifth consecutive year of flat funding for most school districts.  However, pre-K through grade 12 public education is the only major area of the proposed budget that did not experience actual cuts from current-year levels.

Under Corzine’s proposal, school districts would receive more than $7.58 billion in direct aid. (The amount excludes state contributions to teachers’ pension and social security, which would increase by $823.2 million.)