BODY POLITIC

NOW IS THE TIME TO ADDRESS SCHOOL FUNDING

Last week, the taxpayers of New Jersey made a statement. With close to half the school budgets failing, voters throughout the state voiced their opinion on the property tax issue.

Since school funding relies so heavily on property taxes, voters have said that enough is enough.

In many towns, including Atlantic Highlands, reasonable school budgets were handily defeated at the polls. Once the budget is rejected by the public, it is up to joint committees of the school board and elected municipal officials to review the budget. Very often, township committees and councils will not change the school budget, but this year, it appears that the voice of the public cannot be ignored.

Locally, the budget is in capable hands and representatives of both school boards and borough council have already met to discuss cost savings. It remains to be seen if the larger school districts throughout the state can pass on meaningful savings, but one could surmise that the larger the district, the easier it could be to cut the fat. Either way, plans for the 2006-2007 school year will have to be rethought, and schools that have expanded programs may have to wait another year.

There is little doubt that the voters were not punishing specific districts. When budgets fall across the board in a state wide election, you know that there are some strong feelings on voter’s minds. All elected officials have to recognize that the people have spoken loudly, and that some fiscal restraint must be applied. The election was painful for local boards, but the message should be clear to Trenton - now is the time to address our school funding formula and the unfunded state mandates that are handcuffing our schools.