Lookey at what else I found. They always say be careful of what you
wish for, you may just get it. Many of those who voiced support for
the incumbents want the rich folks and nothing but condos. Read
below, we may become the new Glen Ridge NJ. Note comment about "lack
of commercial ratables." Sometimes us critics make sense. Incumbents
still have time to mend fences. You're telling me the council we
have can do it alone? No way, they need help. We're ready to help.
Knock and the door will be answered.
"Call to Arms" Forum Outlines Action Plan for Property Tax Relief
and Education Funding Reform
On Thursday, February 26, 2004, between 80 and 90 people
assembled in the Glen Ridge High School's LGI Room to attend
the "Call to Arms" forum presented by the New Jersey Committee for
Equity in Education Funding (NJCEEF). The bipartisan committee,
first organized in June 2002, consists of representatives of the
Borough Council, Board of Education and community. Lynne
Strickland, of the Garden State Coalition of Schools was a special
guest speaker, and Assemblyman Peter Eagler, along with Ms.
Strickland, took questions from the audience. Mayor Carl Bergmanson
delivered the opening remarks on the scope of the crisis and the
role of education funding on property taxes. Former Mayor Steve
Plate delivered the closing call to arms.
Various speakers stressed the following points:
� State funding for education in Glen Ridge accounted for 23%
of the school budget or $1,509,089 in 1984-1985. In 2003-2004 state
funding for education accounted for 5% of the school budget or
$946,567. Thus, our student aid has been drastically reduced. In
the last ten years, our student population has also risen about
67%. This, coupled with Glen Ridge's lack of commercial ratables is
the single biggest reason for soaring property taxes.
� (N.B.:If State aid had been held flat at 23%, we would now
be receiving over $4 million per year in state aid, a difference of
over $3 million per year from our current aid amount of $946,567)
� The drastic dip in state aid was mainly the result of the
New Jersey Supreme Court's "Abbott" decisions, by which a large
share of available education funding was diverted to New Jersey's 30
lowest income and worst performing school districts. In the
aftermath of the Abbott decisions the legislature did not increase
overall education spending significantly enough to maintain many
districts at the level of funding they received before the Abbott
decisions. As the result, in 2002-2003 Glen Ridge received about
$530 per student from the state, while Newark, an Abbott District,
received almost $11,000 per student from the state with additional
funding provided by the Federal government.
� Short term remedies (legislative action needed between now
and June 30, 2004):
� Asking Sen. Gill and Assemblypersons Eagler and Oliver to
help us secure the $300,000 grant for early childhood education and
technology that we received from 1998-2001, but have not received
for the last two years
� Full funding of the entitlement for extraordinary aid for
mandated special education
� Counting actual enrollment in the education aid formula,
especially categorical program aid/special education
� Including all district factor groups (DFG's) in aid
distribution. As a `high income" district (DFG "I"), Glen Ridge is
often cur out of state aid enhancements.
� Not eclipsing the last state education aid payment in FY '05
� Long term solutions:
� Mechanisms: Legislation (Special Legislative Session on
property taxes), Constitutional Convention or constitutional
amendment
� Options (one or several could be pursued):
� Reduce dependence on property taxes by increasing other
revenue streams (ie. income tax, sales tax or "sin" taxes)
� Change definition of "thorough and efficient" education so
that Abbott districts receive somewhat less money, thereby
increasing available funds for other districts (this can only be
done by Constitutional Convention of constitutional amendment)
� Leave Abbott funding alone but increase overall education
aid by increasing revenue streams
� Require more fiscal accountability and efficiency from
Abbotts, presumably freeing up an unknown amount of funds to be
distributed to non-Abbott districts
� Institute a policy by which no district receives more than
85% state aid, and no district receives less than 15% state aid.
(N.B.: This would triple the amount that Glen Ridge receives).
� Track Record of Success: With the help of legislators and
lobbying groups like the Garden State Coalition of Schools, we have
received funding for our High School Expansion (Facilities Funding
Act), additional extraordinary aid for special education (2003-2004
school year), a proposed minimal increase in state education aid for
the first time in three years. Grass roots action and lobbying have
worked in the past and can work now.
� Next Steps: Audience members and members of the public were
encouraged to do the following:
� Take pre-addressed postcards and mail them to our
legislators (postcard text outlines short term solutions that
require legislative action)
� Submit e-mail addresses to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Addresses will be used to form a mailing list so that community
members can be alerted when letter writing/e-mailing/calling
campaigns need to be implemented (e-mail addresses will not be
shared with any other person or group, and all e-mails will be
sent "blind" so that no name other than the recipients will show up
on the e-mail)
� Stay informed. Use copies of the contact information sheet
(contact information for 34th District officials and NJ Legislature
leadership) to make it easier to get in touch with our leaders
independently
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