Downey and Houghtaling Push for Improvements, Updates on School Funding

June 22nd, 2017

Long Branch - After days of closed door negotiations between Democratic leadership and Governor Christie, still no updated details have emerged on the progress of the school funding proposal put forward by Senator Sweeney and Speaker Prieto. Assembly members Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey addressed their frustration and highlighted their efforts to push through needed improvements:

“We have been in constant communication with Democratic legislative leadership urging them to address the concerning funding shortfalls in the original Prieto-Sweeney proposal. Too many of our districts are facing funding losses and the massive challenge of rewriting budgets for this coming year with fewer funds than they had anticipated. The upheaval that this proposal will cause for a number of our schools cannot be allowed to just slip by.

Every student, no matter what school they attend, should know they’re getting a fair share, and we are still a long way away from that. We will continue to push Democratic legislative leadership until this proposal is improved.

As assembly members, we have consistently focused on the need to address New Jersey’s school funding crisis and we are proud to see that after years of ignoring the issue, Trenton is finally starting a conversation. We remain committed to passing true, long-term school funding legislation that fully funds all our schools and addresses the issues at the foundation of the crisis. Our children have been caught in a political battle for too long and we need to put forward legislation that address the issue once and for all.”

opal Frustrated with Lack of Movement on Funding Negotiations

June 21st, 2017

Long Branch - After the release of the Prieto-Sweeney funding compromise, no more details have emerged over how districts that received inadequate funding or lost funding will be fixed. Vin Gopal, candidate for State Senate in LD11 expressed his concern:

“I’m frustrated that another day has gone by in Trenton and nothing has been done to address the flaws in the original school funding proposal. Like I said when this proposal was first released, while this plan helps some districts within Monmouth County, others are left struggling and that is completely unacceptable.

“I have made my concerns very clear to Democratic leadership and called on them to do everything they can to minimize the negative impact. Based off of promised state aid numbers, schools in the 11th District have already hired teachers, made significant strategic investments in buses and technology for the upcoming school year, and having to make cuts after their new school year starts on July 1st, puts the education of students at risk."

“Beyond that, we need to continue to focus on a long-term solution like the ones my runningmates, Assemblymembers Downey and Houghtaling have supported, that fully funds our schools. Every student needs to get their fair share, and even after the Preto-Sweeney compromise, we are far from that.”

Letter: It's Time To Reform Property Taxes And Lessen The Burden On Homeowners

Today, 60% of our property tax goes to funding schools. A system that relies on the property owner’s income to keep pace with a school tax that increases as one’s property value increases is a flawed system. Property owner’s income does not increase over time; it decreases and will not keep up as a school tax and property value increase.

To lessen this tax burden, remove school tax from property tax. Make this tax a responsibility that is shared among all residents; not just those who own property. Instead, use earned income as the basis for a school tax and a dedicated sales tax on goods and services that are purchased.

Earned income is the best indicator of what one is able to pay.More importantly, every resident would be made eligible. Everyone who earns an income would contribute regardless if they own property or not. A dedicated sales tax would capture income that is not documented or reported and is only recognized when items are purchased; generally the case for those who use our schools and town services, but don’t pay for them. Homeowners would pay less of a school tax under this shared approach as compared to what they are paying under the current system. Owners no longer could hide behind Farmland assessment on land that is used more to view the Navesink than it is used for true farming. Additional revenue would be gained from those who travel in and out of our State.

Lastly, time has come to level the playing field and to do away with Abbott Districts. Take the revenue that is set aside, at the State level, for school funding and establish a foundation requiring all school districts to apply for. Establish general guidelines and a funding criteria based on need. Most importantly, hold the school district accountable for how the funding was utilized before evaluating the funding needs for the upcoming year.


Patrick Short
Former - Middletown Township Committeeman

N.J. loses bid for federal Race to the Top money

Nice job the Governor did in helping to secure "Race to the Top" grant, if he tried any harder we may have come in 12th or 13th. What a shame!!

BY LESLIE BRODY
THE RECORD


New Jersey lost its bid Tuesday for $400 million in federal Race to the Top grants for school reform — by a nose.

Judges ranked New Jersey number 11 but only the top 10 contestants got money. Its score of 437.8 out of 500 fell only three points short of Ohio’s winning plan.

Public finger-pointing began immediately as the New Jersey Education Association, the state’s largest teacher’s union, blamed the loss on Governor Chris Christie’s last-minute rejection of the grant proposal negotiated by his education commissioner and union representatives.

Christie’s “irrational, ideological hatred of NJEA — which led him to throw his own commissioner of education under the school bus for cooperating, rather than conflicting, with NJEA — has led to utter failure, and the loss of desperately needed funds for our public schools,” union president Barbara Keshishian blasted to members online.

Christie spokeswoman Maria Comella countered that “if it’s a choice between choosing the children of New Jersey and capitulating to the status quo the governor will choose the children’s education every time.”

She also noted that an area where New Jersey’s score jumped 23 points since its failed first-round bid was the section on creating “great teachers and leaders.” That part included several of the key proposals the NJEA protested, such as individual merit pay and undercutting seniority rules by retaining the most effective teachers when budget cuts require layoffs....

Read More >>> Here