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Cabinet takes budget on the road to Red Bank
Menna invites state officials back for summer forum
BY SARAH KLEPNER
Staff Writer
RED BANK - - Gov. Jon Corzine's cabinet gathered here last week to answer questions from the public about the state budget.
Red Bank Mayor Pasquale Menna, in a nod to the late journalist David Halberstram, called the officials the "Best and the Brightest."
"They are his main advisers; it shows a great deal of respect for the people of New Jersey," [that they holding this hearing] he said.
Menna introduced Treasurer Bradley Abelow; Commissioner, Department of Community Affairs, Susan Bass-Levin; Commissioner of Education Lucille Davy; Secretary of Department of Commerce Virginia Bauer; State Public Advocate Ronald Chen; and Commissioner of Department of Children and Families Kevin Ryan.
Abelow told the standing-room-only audience that the governor had asked him if "People know we're still here?" When he told the governor that they were appearing in Red Bank, he said Corzine told him, "You'd better start studying."
Abelow gave an overview of the budget. It is a $33.3 billion budget, which has grown by 7.2%, $2.2 billion.
This is the first budget in six years which does not increase the tax levy. It has $339 million in tax reductions. Over half of the budget is property tax relief: $16.6 billion in rebates will be forthcoming.
Abelow said, "This is an honest budget with no tricks or gimmicks," no schemes "to pay for today by mortgaging tomorrow," as Abelow said the governor likes to say.
This, he said, is the first time the budget is transparent, so "that people can see what changes have been made," Abelow said.
Bass-Levin spoke about one feature of budgeting which is the same in municipal government and at the state level: "You're doing more with less year after year."
She pointed out an increase of $40 million in aid to municipalities and counties, saying, "Five years of flat funding have been tough."
She praised Monmouth County for being one of the first in which municipalities have participated in COUNT, the voluntary program for planning shared services.
Bass-Levin talked about the concerns of local governments regarding the new law which caps budget increases. She advised, "Don't panic. My agency will be working with you. We'll answer your questions as they come up."
Abelow said there are several things which are restricting spending, among them New Jersey's $30 billion debt burden, the fourth highest in the nation, and the pensions and costs of medical benefits for retired state workers.
"We need to find an infusion of capital. We're looking [to monetize] assets the state possesses," Abelow said.
Local elected officials in attendance included Shrewsbury and Oceanport Mayors Emma Siciliano and Lucille Chaump, and Assemblyman Mike Panter (D-12) and State Sen. Ellen Karcher (D-12).
While questions from the public ranged widely, the sharpest focus was on school funding issues.
A Long Branch resident objected to the form of property tax relief. Abelow explained that the state would prefer a credit to a rebate, but told her, "We accept responsibility for funding our
towns and our schools."
Phil Welch, of Middletown, spoke on behalf of a church group interested in affordable housing and the state's goal of providing 100,000 units of affordable housing. Menna volunteered to go over the terms of these goals with him.
Doris Lin of Freehold Township asked and found out that there are funds in the budget for education about human interaction with black bears.
Tom Mahedy, a local peace activist representing what he calls the Fort Monmouth Earth Renaissance Peace Alliance, asked whether the state would consider funding research and development for clean, renewable energy as part of the redevelopment of the fort. Bauer explained that the state has committed funds conditionally, depending on private industry matching 2-to-1 what the state has offered.
Opening up the school funding question, John Villapiano, candidate for state Assembly from the 11th District, asked about increasing state funding for education in order to reduce property taxes.
Davy informed Villapiano that the state is developing a new formula for funding schools: one which will be equitable, constitutional and affordable. The formula will take into account special needs students, with a higher risk for failure. She also pointed out that, at $10 billion, kindergarten through 12th grade represents "the single largest spending item" in the budget.
A contingent from Freehold attended, wearing bright yellow "Freehold Needs T&E" T-shirts, the "T & E" being shorthand for "thorough and efficient," which describe the state's educational standards.
Several speakers talked about the 14 districts not in the 'T&E box."
One speaker said, "some, including Abbott districts, are getting way more funding [than Freehold and the 13 others]. There are schools receiving A funding which are no longer A districts. We in the B districts are the new low." Davy repeated that the formula being developed would address this issue: "The goal is a single unified formula," she said.
Ted Miller, also of Freehold Borough, asked again: "For non-Abbott districts, can you guarantee that they will be funded to minimum T&E before November?"
Davy said she did not know if the new formula would be ready before November.
Amy Bronstein and Sean Monahan, from Rutgers-New Brunswick, addressed the cabinet.
Bronstein wanted to know about the portion of the budget allocated for higher education. "It's not as much as we'd like it to be," Abelow said.
When Monahan suggested a 3% tax on professional services to dedicate to higher education funding, Abelow said, "We're not afraid to look at new sources of revenue, "but cautioned against dedication of funds, and expressed concern that such a tax might inhibit the growth of the economy.
"We want to be sure that we do not drive business and jobs out of the state."
One speaker told of an unnamed Abbott District where she works whose funding remains uncertain because its budget increase exceeds the state-mandated maximum increase of 3 percent. There are teachers who will lose their jobs if the budget is ultimately trimmed, which will drive some class sizes up to 42 students, she said.
Davy spoke unequivocally: "There is no way the governor or I will permit class sizes to rise to 42."
Asked for an update on eminent domain, the practice of seizing property for other uses, Ronald Chen informed the meeting that the second edition of "Problems and Issues of Eminent Domain" was going to be published on the Public Advocate's Web site within two weeks.
While the first edition was "doctrinal," Chen said the second will detail the "human face of eminent domain." Chen also said that he argued before the State Supreme Court to "tighten the constitutional definition of blight," the condition used to justify eminent domain.
Abelow said that the governor had convened a commission to study the economics of health care, looking for "ways to attack the underlying cost" as well as ways to provide care to more people. The name of the group is the Commission on Rationalizing Health Care Resources, and it is headed up by a prominent health care economist at Princeton, Uwe Reinhardt.
Menna, who moderated the question and answer session, said after the hearing that he has volunteered to host the next budget forum in Riverside Park over the summer.
Cabinet takes budget on the road to Red Bank
Menna invites state officials back for summer forum
BY SARAH KLEPNER
Staff Writer
RED BANK - - Gov. Jon Corzine's cabinet gathered here last week to answer questions from the public about the state budget.
Red Bank Mayor Pasquale Menna, in a nod to the late journalist David Halberstram, called the officials the "Best and the Brightest."
"They are his main advisers; it shows a great deal of respect for the people of New Jersey," [that they holding this hearing] he said.
Menna introduced Treasurer Bradley Abelow; Commissioner, Department of Community Affairs, Susan Bass-Levin; Commissioner of Education Lucille Davy; Secretary of Department of Commerce Virginia Bauer; State Public Advocate Ronald Chen; and Commissioner of Department of Children and Families Kevin Ryan.
Abelow told the standing-room-only audience that the governor had asked him if "People know we're still here?" When he told the governor that they were appearing in Red Bank, he said Corzine told him, "You'd better start studying."
Abelow gave an overview of the budget. It is a $33.3 billion budget, which has grown by 7.2%, $2.2 billion.
This is the first budget in six years which does not increase the tax levy. It has $339 million in tax reductions. Over half of the budget is property tax relief: $16.6 billion in rebates will be forthcoming.
Abelow said, "This is an honest budget with no tricks or gimmicks," no schemes "to pay for today by mortgaging tomorrow," as Abelow said the governor likes to say.
This, he said, is the first time the budget is transparent, so "that people can see what changes have been made," Abelow said.
Bass-Levin spoke about one feature of budgeting which is the same in municipal government and at the state level: "You're doing more with less year after year."
She pointed out an increase of $40 million in aid to municipalities and counties, saying, "Five years of flat funding have been tough."
She praised Monmouth County for being one of the first in which municipalities have participated in COUNT, the voluntary program for planning shared services.
Bass-Levin talked about the concerns of local governments regarding the new law which caps budget increases. She advised, "Don't panic. My agency will be working with you. We'll answer your questions as they come up."
Abelow said there are several things which are restricting spending, among them New Jersey's $30 billion debt burden, the fourth highest in the nation, and the pensions and costs of medical benefits for retired state workers.
"We need to find an infusion of capital. We're looking [to monetize] assets the state possesses," Abelow said.
Local elected officials in attendance included Shrewsbury and Oceanport Mayors Emma Siciliano and Lucille Chaump, and Assemblyman Mike Panter (D-12) and State Sen. Ellen Karcher (D-12).
While questions from the public ranged widely, the sharpest focus was on school funding issues.
A Long Branch resident objected to the form of property tax relief. Abelow explained that the state would prefer a credit to a rebate, but told her, "We accept responsibility for funding our
towns and our schools."
Phil Welch, of Middletown, spoke on behalf of a church group interested in affordable housing and the state's goal of providing 100,000 units of affordable housing. Menna volunteered to go over the terms of these goals with him.
Doris Lin of Freehold Township asked and found out that there are funds in the budget for education about human interaction with black bears.
Tom Mahedy, a local peace activist representing what he calls the Fort Monmouth Earth Renaissance Peace Alliance, asked whether the state would consider funding research and development for clean, renewable energy as part of the redevelopment of the fort. Bauer explained that the state has committed funds conditionally, depending on private industry matching 2-to-1 what the state has offered.
Opening up the school funding question, John Villapiano, candidate for state Assembly from the 11th District, asked about increasing state funding for education in order to reduce property taxes.
Davy informed Villapiano that the state is developing a new formula for funding schools: one which will be equitable, constitutional and affordable. The formula will take into account special needs students, with a higher risk for failure. She also pointed out that, at $10 billion, kindergarten through 12th grade represents "the single largest spending item" in the budget.
A contingent from Freehold attended, wearing bright yellow "Freehold Needs T&E" T-shirts, the "T & E" being shorthand for "thorough and efficient," which describe the state's educational standards.
Several speakers talked about the 14 districts not in the 'T&E box."
One speaker said, "some, including Abbott districts, are getting way more funding [than Freehold and the 13 others]. There are schools receiving A funding which are no longer A districts. We in the B districts are the new low." Davy repeated that the formula being developed would address this issue: "The goal is a single unified formula," she said.
Ted Miller, also of Freehold Borough, asked again: "For non-Abbott districts, can you guarantee that they will be funded to minimum T&E before November?"
Davy said she did not know if the new formula would be ready before November.
Amy Bronstein and Sean Monahan, from Rutgers-New Brunswick, addressed the cabinet.
Bronstein wanted to know about the portion of the budget allocated for higher education. "It's not as much as we'd like it to be," Abelow said.
When Monahan suggested a 3% tax on professional services to dedicate to higher education funding, Abelow said, "We're not afraid to look at new sources of revenue, "but cautioned against dedication of funds, and expressed concern that such a tax might inhibit the growth of the economy.
"We want to be sure that we do not drive business and jobs out of the state."
One speaker told of an unnamed Abbott District where she works whose funding remains uncertain because its budget increase exceeds the state-mandated maximum increase of 3 percent. There are teachers who will lose their jobs if the budget is ultimately trimmed, which will drive some class sizes up to 42 students, she said.
Davy spoke unequivocally: "There is no way the governor or I will permit class sizes to rise to 42."
Asked for an update on eminent domain, the practice of seizing property for other uses, Ronald Chen informed the meeting that the second edition of "Problems and Issues of Eminent Domain" was going to be published on the Public Advocate's Web site within two weeks.
While the first edition was "doctrinal," Chen said the second will detail the "human face of eminent domain." Chen also said that he argued before the State Supreme Court to "tighten the constitutional definition of blight," the condition used to justify eminent domain.
Abelow said that the governor had convened a commission to study the economics of health care, looking for "ways to attack the underlying cost" as well as ways to provide care to more people. The name of the group is the Commission on Rationalizing Health Care Resources, and it is headed up by a prominent health care economist at Princeton, Uwe Reinhardt.
Menna, who moderated the question and answer session, said after the hearing that he has volunteered to host the next budget forum in Riverside Park over the summer.
