Slicing NJ's schools: Christie's deal with the voters

NY Post ^ | April 5, 2010 | EILEEN NORCROSS

[Scanian]

Gov. Chris Christie is making good on his promise to get tough with New Jersey's $2.2 billion budget gap -- by taking aim at one of the drivers of the state's out-of-control taxes: school budgets.

Under Christie's budget, New Jersey's 605 school districts will see their state aid reduced by 5 percent of their last budget. That trims state spending by $820 million, forcing school districts to make deeper cuts or raise property taxes.

If it stopped there, Christie's one-time aid cut would do nothing but aggravate property-tax payers. But he's also seeking a constitutional amendment on the November ballot to lower the property-tax cap from 4 to 2.5 percent -- preventing localities from guzzling at the local revenue tap while blaming it on Trenton's stinginess.

[bruinbirdman]

For K-12, New Jersey's per capita outlay is the second highest in the country, behind only Alaska, a special case (oil income).

yitbos

[SkyPilot]

The head of the NJEA, Joyce Powell, told reporters that Kindergarten students could not have colored construction paper because of Gov. Christie.

It was incredible, but typical. What really floored me was that local reporters pressed her about why she would not open up the teacher contracts (with their incredible 4.5% pay increase and almost zero contribution to their own health care costs). Only 12% of NJ teachers current pay premiums towards their own health insurance.

She refused to answer the question.

That's good ole Joyce Powell (the NJEA President) on the left.

She is a metaphor for what is wrong: a fat, bloated, domineering bureaucrat who is out of control.

[who knows what evil?]

Didn’t I see a picture of Joyce marching in Portland, Maine yesterday..?

[DrC]

“She is a metaphor for what is wrong: a fat, bloated, domineering bureaucrat who is out of control.”

Yep. There’s no indication that trimming her rations by 5% would pose any risk to her well-being. Of course, if she adds colored construction paper to her diet in lieu of belt-tightening, this may adversely affect students. If I were a NJ taxpayer, I’d be willing to take this risk.

[GlockThe Vote]

The greedy slobs will never be satisfied. So far as I can tell christie is one of the only pols elected recently to really keep his promises and kick butt in the face of huge opposition.

[JohnLongIsland]

Nobody talks about the massive, massive fraud in the NJ school systems; shhhh!, it's the best kept secret that everyone knows.

[SmokingJoe]

Fat, ugly and stupid is no way to go through life. This Joyce could sure do with plenty of “slicing”. She is the poster child for everything that is wrong with the teachers unions in NJ.

[SmokingJoe]

Cgristie is sure walking the walk. Right now, he is one of my favourite governors in the country.

[Average Al]

Just once I would like to see real citizen panels or outside efficiency experts called in to recommend the cuts. The ones the school boards come up with are usually a joke.

[Londo Molari]

“Christie is sure walking the walk. Right now, he is one of my favourite governors in the country.”

Yep — the teachers are calling him “fat hitler” and such. I heard that Christie eats children and, only second to GW, hates minorities. Yep — the race card is being pulled. Better hope he never gets hold of Rove’s weather machine.

[Red Dog #1]

Over a few year period: 1) give parents school vouchers, 2) privatize the public schools, 3) let the free market do it's magic.

Down side? None unless your a NEA member, school administrator (otherwise know as a bureaucrat) or a politician surviving via patronage.

[paulcissa]

NJEA has been raping the State for NJ for decades. I have no pity for them or their membership.

[AnnaZ]

A clever and concise look at the school budgets issue, with a special focus on New Jersey... The Cartel. Excellent film. You'll laugh... you'll cry...

[JimRed]

Getting rid of layers of administrative bureaucracy will correct the imbalance, if local boards have the guts to do it.

[Wuli]

The state should turn ALL K-12 state aid into vouchers, and let the parents take their vouchers to what ever school they want to give them to.