Posted on 02/03/2007 8:03:23 AM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist
(CBS/AP) TRENTON -- Sarah Maris has been very pleased so with the education her 14-year-old has received in New Jersey so far.
"It's just been excellent," the Fair Haven resident said.
But she's concerned how the quality of education will be affected by a proposed 4 percent cap on annual property tax increases.
Parents like Maris are worried a spending cap, approved by the Assembly and slated for a Senate vote this Monday, will cripple New Jersey schools that produce children with math, reading and SAT scores that rank among the nation's best.
"I'm very worried my child in first grade won't get the same education as my child in high school has," Maris said.
The cap is designed to control the nation's highest property taxes, which average about $6,000 a year -- twice the national average -- and have been increasing 7 percent annually.
But school officials fear the cap will choke spending and bring teacher layoffs, larger class sizes and cuts in other services.
"A lot of the damage will be irreversible," Maris said.
New Jersey has modeled its proposed cap -- which has been combined with a proposal to cut annual property taxes bills by 20 percent for most homeowners -- on one used by Massachusetts, which restricts property tax increases to 2.5 percent per year.
If Massachusetts is any example, New Jersey schools will be most affected by a cap.
Like Massachusetts, New Jersey wants to allow schools and local governments to ask voters for authority to exceed the cap.
A Massachusetts state analysis of requests to exceed the caps from 1994 to 2001 found 2,887 votes. Of those, 876 came from schools, by far the leading reason. Local governments also sought approval to exceed the cap for projects involving such areas as public works, recreation and public safety.
Massachusetts schools turned to voters because they needed more money for a variety of projects and positions. Among them: New school construction, staff salaries, new jobs and computer purchases.
The Massachusetts Teachers Association publishes a guide on how to rally voters to support exceeding the cap.
The New Jersey Education Association is fighting the proposed cap. It posted a warning to members on its Web site that "Tax caps will starve public schools!" and urged residents to complain to their lawmakers.
"If underfunding of state school aid continues, as it has since 2002, the new property tax cap could lead to education program cuts," said Edwina M. Lee, executive director of the New Jersey School Boards Association.
Massachusetts voters have approved two-thirds of requests to exceed the limit for schools, indicating a willingness by voters to pay more when it comes to schools.
But Massachusetts requires only a majority vote to approve exceeding the cap.
New Jersey has proposed requiring a 60 percent vote to exceed the cap, which Assemblyman John Burzichelli, D-Gloucester, a bill sponsor, noted would make it harder to override the cap than to amend the state constitution.
Schools and local governments could also ask the state for special approval to exceed the cap, while schools would get automatic exemptions to help pay debt, health care cost obligations and costs associated with increased enrollment.
Democrats claim these options will control soaring property taxes without crippling schools' ability to provide quality education.
"They (caps) will apply to the lion's share of spending areas while recognizing that there are some cost drivers that are beyond the ability of local officials and school districts to control," said Assemblyman John McKeon, D-Essex, another bill sponsor.
Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr. said lawmakers are aware of concerns but noted a recent poll that found most residents support the 4 percent cap.
"The question of whether our reforms go far enough won't be decided by the professional lobbyists, the pundits or we the politicians," said Roberts, D-Camden. "Whether this reform goes far enough will be decided by the people of the state of New Jersey."
I think Texas (at the rate we are going it should be spelled Taxes) is number 2 and we are looking for caps as well. Either that or be taxed out of our houses.
The Massachusetts Teachers Association publishes a guide on how to rally voters to support exceeding the cap.
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Welcome to ANOTHER state controlled by tax-crazy socialists.
"The New Jersey Education Association is fighting the proposed cap. It posted a warning to members on its Web site that "Tax caps will starve public schools!" and urged residents to complain to their lawmakers. "
LOL!
It's just less money to go in the pocket of crooks.
NJ schools are nothing to get excited about. They use kids to black mail parents into soaring property taxes. Kids aren't "smarter". They're not doing better on tests. The "tests" are just EASIER and teachers TEACH to those TESTS. When will parents WAKE UP!
Parents have complete control on how THEIR kids do. It requires PARENTS to get involved with their kids!
"Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr. said lawmakers are aware of concerns but noted a recent poll that found most residents support the 4 percent cap. "
That's RIGHT!
Most people are sick and tired of this black mail.
They see through this for what it is ... a waste of their money.
Just think... with all the money the New Jersey taxpayers will be saving, they can send their kids to a decent private school and get an even better education.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1775611/posts
Governor Corzine Files Nominations (NJEA Nominee)
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION - Edithe Fulton is the former president of the New Jersey Education Association.
Awwwww!!!
Socialists want more tax money. This isn't news, it's just what liberals do.
Let them lay off a few patronage positions and cut some pork first. Like that would ever happen.
By comparison, the tax cap in California is 1% of the assessed value with an inflation adjustment maximum of 2%. Example: You buy your house for $150,000 x 1% or $1,500. Next year inflation is 3% so your taxes go up 2% of $1,500 or $30 - generally with no reassessment as long as you own your home.
Tax slaves in Taxus and Joisey can find more info on the benefits of Prop 13 at www.hjta.org
A "google" of Sarah Maris indicates she was president-elect of the Fairhaven PTA in late 2005. I wonder why the article didn't point up that background?
They are kinda like that perverbial camel, aren't they?
It's always nice when we can get others to furnish the funds for our own priorities. Perhaps Maris should look into a private school for her child and stop insisting that others pay for her child's education.
Giving schools more money is just throwing good money after bad. Teachers do a poor job. Administrators waste money. And our children receive a lousy education.
So cough up even more money.
Somehow I don't think Ms. Maris' kids are going to be reduced to attending a one room school anytime soon. Fair Haven is a rich little town. The family income there is $109,760.00. The average family income for the entire United States is $65,093.00
Where did you get those numbers? I want to see how my town is doing.
Just google "average family income [your town your state]"
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