12th District legislators Jennifer Beck, Declan O’Scanlon and Caroline Casagrande sent a letter to Governor Jon Corzine today, asking him to delay implementation of his planned pre-school expansion program. They issued the following statement:
“As the Governor considers places to cut spending in light of the anticipated $2 billion revenue shortfall, we reiterate our call to delay mandatory pre-school for any district factor groups above level C. With New Jersey’s finances in a shambles, it makes no sense to cut $75 million in aid to K-12 school districts, including over $1 million to the 12th District, while starting a new, expensive program.”
The letter follows:
January 12, 2009
The Honorable Jon Corzine
Office of the Governor
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625
Dear Governor Corzine:
Tomorrow you will stand before the Legislature and the people of New Jersey to deliver your remarks on the State of the State. I am sure that we will all agree that the State of the State can only be described as ‘not well.’
It is most important at this time that we try to keep the cost of government from climbing, while maintaining our ability to deliver core government functions.
For this reason, we would respectfully suggest that you consider delaying the implementation of the pre-school program that will surely require vast financial resources. At a time when state cannot even fully fund the current school funding formula, we only risk driving property taxes higher as limited funding for school and municipal aid is diverted to this new program.
New Jersey is facing a fiscal crisis in the current and upcoming budget year that is unprecedented. The scope of the budget deficits that need to be confronted are massive, and we shouldn’t make the problem worse by initiating massive new spending programs at the expense of critical programs that already exist.
Respectfully,
Jennifer Beck
Senator, District 12
Declan O’Scanlon
Assemblyman, District 12
Caroline Casagrande
Assemblywoman, District 12
Link to Post:
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