Senate President Richard J. Codey last week proposed that school districts cite percentage increases in school property taxes when presenting proposed budgets to voters.

Doing so would allow taxpayers to have a comparison of their public school district’s budget request from the previous year, according to the former governor. Codey indicated that he hopes to spur public interest in school spending— in light of the escalating debate over property taxes in New Jersey.

He will introduce legislation during the next Senate quorum on June 8.

“More often than not, public attention focuses on budget increases at the municipal, county, or state level, with little attention focused on school board spending,” said Codey. “This bill will allow voters to see the direct impact that school board budgets have on their property taxes and hopefully engage them in the voting process and encourage more fiscal responsibility from our districts.”

The proposal would require school districts to cite the percentage tax increase on the ballot, even if the budget plan does not exceed the state-mandated spending cap, Codey told the Associated Press.

Opposite Direction Other proposed changes in the school budget/election process also are on the table in Trenton.

Earlier this month, the Senate Education Committee released legislation that would eliminate a public vote on proposed district budgets that are at or below cap. S-1546 (Turner) would also merge the non-partisan school board member elections, now held in April, with the partisan November General Election.

NJSBA supports eliminating the public vote on proposed expenditures at or below the state-mandated budget cap. However, it opposes holding school board member elections on the same day as partisan elections.

Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts also has proposed the elimination of voter action on proposed school budgets at or below cap as part of his package to reorganize school districts and local government.