COURT RULING SHOWS SOBER JUDGEMENT ON ABBOTT FUNDING INCREASE
In a real change of pace, the New Jersey State Supreme Court finally ruled for the taxpayers of the state. The decision handed down earlier this week to freeze state aid to Abbot school districts was a victory for Governor Jon Corzine’s administration and hopefully a wakeup call to our state legislature. With its ruling, the Court bucked its trend for decisions away from the mainstream and may hold out some hope for future rulings.
By siding with the administration, the Court rejected the request of the 31 Abbot districts to increase its funding from the prior year. Taxpayers are already tired of the wasteful spending and double dipping coming out of Trenton, and many figured that the court would continue to funnel dollars to the Abbot experiment. The court may have felt that enough was enough and that it is time the Abbot districts tighten their belt. After the decision, the usual griping about cutting programs was paraded by representatives of the the districts but the onus is now on them to find cost savings. The spotlight also falls on the state legislature to really address the way our state funds education.
The fact that the court bucked the Abbot districts was surprising because the Court has a developed a reputation for its absurd rulings. Just last year, the Court ruled that the state could issue bonds only “one final time” to balance the budget. A few years ago, the Court ignored established election laws and allowed the Democrat party to replace Bob Torricelli on the ticket with Frank Lautenberg.
If the recent ruling is a trend towards sober thinking on the bench, it is long overdue. It could also have been the fact that the judges noticed Governor Corzine in the audience for oral arguments and know that their re-appointments rest on his nomination. Either way, it is a welcome sign that the Court finally sided with the majority of the public on an important issue in our state.
