Senator Sean Kean (R-11) made the following comments after reviewing the preliminary numbers presented in Governor Jon Corzine’s budget:
“Governor Corzine’s spending plan would save less than $40 million by cutting aid for towns of less than 10, 000 people. That same budget ignores the potential for far bigger savings merely by limiting proposed increases in spending for 11 Abbott and Abbott Rim districts that now receive more than $650 million in annual aid.
“Increase after increase has been granted to these Abbott and Abbott Rim districts over the last six years. The governor’s new funding law includes a 16% boost in aid for Union City’s district alone. Small towns in my district will be asked to pay more in taxes to balance this governor’s budget. These 11 districts will get increases, paid for by my constituents, far exceeding the inflation rate.
“I wholeheartedly endorse the governor’s decision to present a budget that doesn’t rely on new taxes or toll increases. However, the budget needs to be balanced fairly. These 11 districts will have more cash than they need to provide a quality education for every child.
“That would remain true even if the governor were to cut their budgets. I’m only asking that the governor limit increases to the rate of inflation so residents of small towns aren’t hit with huge property tax increases in addition to the cutbacks in service laid out in his budget.”
The 11 Abbott and Abbott Rim districts that the governor plans to provide funding increases beyond the rate of inflation are New Brunswick and Perth Amboy in Middlesex County; Orange in Essex County; Hillside in Union County; Bayonne, North Bergen, Kearny, Harrison and Union City in Hudson County; Clifton City in Passaic County, and Garfield in Bergen County.
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April 10, 2008
