CNBNews

JUDGE REVIEWING STATE’S SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA SEES NO MORE NEED FOR SPECIAL CLASS OF DISTRICTS

Assemblyman David W. Wolfe lauded the March 25, 2009  recommendation by Bergen County Superior Court Judge Peter E. Doyne to end Abbott school districts’ special designation and wean them off their extra state funding.

“I hope the state Supreme Court accepts Judge Doyne’s recommendations because New Jersey’s struggling middle class taxpayers cannot afford to subsidize education in specially-selected cities,” Wolfe, R-Ocean, a member of the Assembly Education Committee said. “The Judge confirmed what we have long been arguing: Large amounts of money taken from the suburbs and given to the cities won’t improve education for the children.

“We must fairly fund education for all classes of New Jerseyans no matter where they live,” Wolfe added.

While Doyne said Abbott districts should receive extra aid for at least three more years, Wolfe said officials should make that the maximum, not minimum, duration.

“Three years cannot come soon enough for New Jersey’s taxpayers,” Wolfe said. “For too long, they have had to pay an inordinate amount toward the state’s education funding. Hopefully, the judge’s recommendation signals a step toward equality in New Jersey’s education and tax systems.”

The local Abbott districts are Camden, Burlington City, Gloucester City, and Pemberton Township.