School Funding Plan - Something for everyone not to like

According to the Inquirer today, it seems that the more our local school districts learn about the governor's school funding plan, the more they don't like. We had always questioned how it was going to be paid for. But, now apparently the districts are going to be forced to reduce property taxes.

General Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D., Camden) praised the tax relief promised by the new formula.

"The state has a moral and a constitutional obligation to provide a quality education," Roberts said. "But we also have an obligation to confront the reality that we have the highest property taxes in the nation."

No issue with Speaker Roberts here. The heart of the problem may be stated more clearly by the Republican leader:

Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce, whose district includes communities in Passaic and Morris Counties, said Democrats were trying to "ramrod a thoroughly complicated and convoluted school-funding formula" into law.

"They're moving faster than the Polar Express on an icy slope," DeCroce said in a statement.

I don't understand why this Governor insists on constant secrecy and then expects the Senate and Assembly to just rubber stamp his whims. If I were in either chamber, I would not stake my political reputation on Corzine as he still could become as notorious as James Florio for all the same reasons.

Slow down guys, Deliberate and get it right. The children of New Jersey deserve that much. Read the entire article here.

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