Last January, on the eve of the latest NJ Supreme Court hearing on funding for school facilities, Governor Corzine sent a last-second letter to the Court promising to submit a bill to the Legislature requesting $2.5 billion for school construction. In the letter, the Governor said he expected the legislation to be enacted by June 30, 2008. As of May 1, no bill has been introduced.

In the meantime, on March 13 Senate and Assembly Republicans issued a press release stating that they would not support a request for an additional $2.5 billion for school construction without voter approval.

A bill (SCR39) sponsored by Senators Lesniak and Lance proposing a constitutional amendment requiring that all bonding go before New Jersey voters was subsequently passed out of the Budget and Appropriations Committee. Some legislators want to wait until this bill is presented to voters, possibly in November 2008, before bringing forward any legislation for increased bonding for school facilities. If the amendment is approved, all bonding to pay for future school facilities projects would have to go before voters.

The Court has made it clear that it is the State’s constitutional responsibility to provide adequate facilities for all students regardless of how the funding is obtained. The continuing debate over how to fund both renovations and new projects, and the legislative foot-dragging around funding, mean that school construction costs are increasing with the rising cost of materials and the continuing deterioration of existing facilities.

A separate school facilities funding bill has been submitted by Senators Ronald Rice and Shirley Turner. In it, the Senators ask for the needed $2.5 billion, as well as an additional $250 million for county vocational schools and $750 million for all other districts. To date, no action has been taken on the bill.

For more information about school construction, contact Lindy Wilson at lindy789@optonline.net.

Prepared: May 13, 2008