TRENTON – Senator John H. Adler, Co-Chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Public School Funding Reform, issued the following statement today after the panel approved the Committee’s final report by a vote of 4-2.
“I want to thank the Committee members, staffers, and members of the public for being a part of this process.
“Our mission throughout the hearings has always been to find a balance between helping the children of the State and helping the taxpayers. I think that, with the recommendations in our report, we have struck the necessary balance.
“With a new funding formula, we will be able to provide support for our public schools while helping to reign in runaway property taxes in our communities.
“Unfortunately, New Jersey has been divided for too long by tensions brought about by the current funding system.
“Whether it’s urban versus suburban schools, or tensions between parents who want excellent educational opportunities for their kids, and taxpayers who cannot afford another property tax increase, these tensions have pitted us against each other.
“However, with a fair funding formula in place, we can move forward, with strong schools and manageable taxes for all New Jerseyans.”