New Laws That Affect Negotiations, Budgets and Travel

New Laws That Affect
Negotiations, Budgets and Travel

Negotiations The property tax cap and credit law (A-1), enacted April 3, will provide flexibility for boards that participate in the State Health Benefits Program. The law will allow employee contribution to premium. It will also permit variations in levels of coverage for different classifications of employees, based on date of initial employment, salary and other factors.

A summary of the law’s impact on negotiations is available on NJSBA’s Web site at www.njsba.org under “What’s New.”

Budgeting The tax cap law will have a strong impact on school district budgets for 2007-2008 and 2008-2009. NJSBA has established a special Web page, www.njsba.org/a1 that includes a variety of information and resources about the law, including a video presentation on the new cap, a summary of cap adjustments and waivers, and strategies for the 2007 School Budget Election.

Travel Restrictions The “school district accountability” law (A-5) signed in March places travel restrictions and reporting and approval requirements on local school boards and school district employees. FAQs about the new travel restrictions, developed by the NJSBA Legal Department, are available at www.njsba.org under the “What’s New” heading. Other information about A-5 is also posted on the NJSBA homepage.

Members planning to attend the National School Boards Association conference this month are urged to review the summary.

The accountability law dictates which travel costs must be itemized, the use of hotels that offer special rates to government employees and a report by attendees following the event. Districts that violate their established maximum travel expenditure limits could be subject to a variety of sanctions, including reduced state aid.