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May 2, 2007 • Vol. XXX • No. 36
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Page| Special Session Update | |
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The Legislature is scheduled to return May 10 after taking a two-month break for state budget hearings. As a refresher, NJSBA has compiled a list of legislation that emanated from last fall’s special session on property tax reform. Of the following seven bills that directly affect public education, only the pension reform bill (S-17) remains to be signed into law by the governor. Property Tax Cap (A-1) Places a 4 percent local levy cap on budgets; provides property tax credits funded through part of last year’s 1-cent sales tax hike. Beginning in 2008, approval of second questions will require 60 percent of the vote. The statute also provides flexibility for boards that participate in the State Health Benefits Program by allowing employee contribution to premiums and variations in coverage levels for different classifications of employees, based on date of initial employment, salary and other factors. For more information, visit NJSBA’s A-1 resource page. Status: Signed into law April 3; effective immediately State Comptroller (A-2) Creates an independent Office of State Comptroller. The governor-appointed comptroller will conduct financial audits and performance reviews of state government, independent authorities and other government units, including school districts. The Legislature, however, amended an earlier version of the bill to reduce the impact on school districts, which already secure independent audits of their budgets and are subject to financial oversight by the state Department of Education. Status: Signed into law April 3; effective Oct. 1 CORE Act (A-4) Establishes 21 executive county superintendents, appointed by the governor, with far-reaching authority over local school district spending and operations. They will devise plans to eliminate send-all, or non-operating, school districts in their counties. Within three years they will propose restructuring all districts into kindergarten through grade 12 systems. Status: Signed into law April 3; effective immediately Accountability Act (A-5) Institutes procedures and standards concerning user-friendly budget procedures, board member and staff travel, state financial monitoring, and superintendent/administrator employment. The law also requires training for veteran and re-elected/reappointed board members. (For a summary of the Accountability Act’s provisions, see the March 21 issue of School Board Notes. Status: Signed into law March 15; effective immediately Consolidation Study Commission (A-15) Establishes a commission to review consolidation and shared services among municipalities, fire districts, and other taxing districts. Although the commission will recommend consolidation of school districts, any merger of municipalities has the potential to affect school district boundaries. Status: Signed into law March 15; effective immediately Education Mandates (A-17) Eliminates various mandates imposed on public school districts, such as certain holiday observances and duplicate financial reporting requirements. Status: Signed into law Feb. 15; effective July 1 Pension and Benefits Reform (S-17) Would allow school districts to offer employees incentives to waive coverage under the State Health Benefits Program. It also would prohibit individuals who have professional services contracts with government entities and school districts from participating in the Public Employees’ Retirement System. Status: Passed both houses, sent to the governor Feb. 22. Awaits the governor’s signature. |
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