Enacting
Reform Now to Protect Education and New Jersey’s ChildrenToolkit Puts Reform in the Hands of Local School
Districts
“…Remember that the only way we will get through
the challenges of today is by facing them now. Our state, our families
and our children can no longer afford government at any level that
wishes problems away or stands in the way of necessary change.”
– Governor Chris Christie, 4/18/10
The Christie Reform Agenda puts real, tangible
solutions in the hands of local school districts to help control costs
in the long-term and provide additional near-term savings during the
current economic and fiscal crisis.
Governor Christie’s package of reform legislation
is designed to enable school districts to better manage their budgets
and, by extension, hold down property taxes for New Jersey families.
Cap 2.5 to Achieve Real Property Tax Relief. Governor Christie is
calling on the legislature to act now and approve for New Jersey voter’s
consideration this November an amendment to the Constitution. The
amendment would limit annual increases in property taxes imposed by
school districts, municipalities and counties to 2.5 percent. The
proposal also calls for a similar constitutional cap of 2.5% on spending
for State government operations. The property tax levy cap does allow
for adjustments in the event a municipality adds new ratables, and
provides a limited exception for debt service. Current law provides for
a 4% cap with broad exclusions that render the cap virtually
meaningless.
Collective Bargaining Reform. Better than anyone
else, school boards and superintendents understand that the collective
bargaining system is in desperate need of reform. The current statutory
framework unfairly favors the interests of public employee unions to
the detriment of taxpayers. To level the playing field, the Governor’s
Reform Agenda calls for changes that would prohibit any contract
proposal that would cause a school district to exceed the 2.5 percent
cap. Additionally, the reform agenda includes legislation to grant
school districts the ability to impose a “last, best offer” contract
under certain circumstances.
Managing
Costs with Executive County Superintendent Approval of Contracts. To
help school districts manage personnel costs, the Governor is proposing
legislation that would require Executive County Superintendent approval
of all school contracts. Approval would be withheld for contracts that
increase the annual levy more than the 2.5 percent cap, fail to require
at least five hours of pupil contact time per day for teaching staff,
fail to specify a minimum number of work days or prohibit contracting
for ancillary services.
Achieving
Savings Through Shared Services. The
Governor’s Reform Agenda includes legislation to better promote the use
of shared services in order to achieve additional cost savings.
Specifically, executive county superintendents will be required to
implement sharing of school business functions across districts and
municipalities.
Going
Further with Pension Reform. While the
recent pension reform bills signed into law in March are a good and
encouraging start, the Governor has called for further reform and
action.The Christie Reform Agenda includes:
· Elimination of enrollment eligibility in any
state-administered retirement system, such as the Public Employees’
Retirement System, for certain non-governmental groups and associations.
· Prevent certain officers or employees on an approved leave of
absence from his/her regular duties from enrolling in or continuing
enrollment in any state-administered retirement system.
· Cap future accrual of accumulated sick leave at $15,000 for
current municipal and school board employees.
Election Reform. The Governor is
proposing legislation to move school board elections to November. In
addition to increasing voter participation in these elections,
localities will achieve cost savings associated with administering a
stand-alone election in April. In addition, the Governor is proposing
legislation that would require only single sample ballot to each
household instead of multiple sample ballots to all voters residing in
household.
NEA RA Winners Frank Zaremba Deborah Eddy Michele Shields Buono Pat Lieberman Doug Dale Barbara J. James Joan Wright Michael Kelley Sandy Villegas Dina Dale Susan Jaysnovitch Natalie Gerald
NEA RA Minority Concerns Winners Deborah L. Eddy Barbara J. James Joan Wright
