TRENTON – Senate Budget Committee Chair, Senator Barbara Buono, D-Middlesex, the sponsor of the new school funding formula, issued the following statement regarding Department of Education Commissioner Lucille Davy’s announcement today of new regulations to ensure greater accountability of school spending:
“Earlier this month, when the Department testified before the Budget Committee, Commissioner Davy assured us that we were going to see enhanced accountability standards in place shortly to protect taxpayer dollars from misuse and abuse in the State’s school districts. Today, we’re seeing the fruit of those assurances, and I commend the Commissioner and Department officials for following through on a very serious public need.
“The regulations announced today go a long way towards holding local school officials accountable for excessive and inappropriate spending, giving the State the authority to deny payment for waste and abuse. New Jersey should not and cannot sanction spending which violates the public trust. Denial of funds and economic penalties for wasteful school districts will guarantee that administrators think twice before approving questionable expenditures.
“All told, the Commissioner’s announced regulations are a good start to ensuring greater accountability of public dollars in school districts around New Jersey. As State officials struggle with a near-chronic budgetary gap, school administrators must be monitored to make sure that public funds are being spent appropriately. I look forward to continue working with Commissioner Davy and others to eliminate wasteful spending and make the most of our limited public resources.”