NJSBA: Suspend 2010 School Budget Election

With local school boards facing an uncertain state funding picture, NJSBA is urging the Legislature and the Administration to suspend the 2010 school budget election.

The suspension would apply only to districts’ base budget proposals. Under NJSBA’s plan, board member elections, second ballot questions and construction bond referendums would still take place at the Annual School Election on April 20.

Funding Questions “Local school boards must finalize proposed budgets for placement on the election ballot by April 3, three weeks after Gov. Christie’s budget message,” explained Marie S. Bilik, NJSBA executive director. “Uncertainty over state school aid, along with the compressed budget development timelines, will pose a burden to local school districts in developing intelligent, responsible budgets.”

In addition to concern about next year’s state aid, more than 500 school districts are still wrestling with a $475 million freeze in current-year state funding, which will force them to use excess surplus and dip into certain reserve accounts – action that will also affect 2010-2011 school budgets.

Sample Resolution The budget election suspension would require legislation. NJSBA has sought the suspension in testimony before the Legislature and in conversations with administration officials.

To advocate for the election suspension, local boards of education should also reach out to their legislative representatives. NJSBA has prepared a sample resolution, which local school officials can download from NJSBA’s “State Aid Freeze 2010” Web page. If possible, boards may consider adopting the resolution at their next meeting. The resolution can also serve as the basis for a letter to legislative leaders, or talking points when discussing the issue.

Taxpayers Safeguarded “Proposed school district budgets are controlled by a tax-levy cap, undergo thorough review by the state’s executive county superintendents with the express purpose of ensuring efficiency, and are subject to public hearing,” said Bilik. “So clearly, the taxpayers’ interests are represented without having the proposals go to referendum.

“Suspension of the 2010 school budget election would also spare municipalities and school districts the time-consuming and unnecessary exercise of negotiating over rejected budgets, which are bare bones to begin with.”

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