Debate brews before council over federal IDEA funding

By vincent todaro
Staff Writer

Debate brews before council
over federal IDEA funding
By vincent todaro
Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK — Republicans expressed anger Monday about the all-Democrat Township Council’s lack of support for increased federal special education funding.

Claiming politics is getting in the way, Republican council hopeful Anthony Riccobono scolded the council at Monday night’s meeting, saying there was no reason not to support bipartisan efforts in Congress to increase funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

"I’m frankly very disappointed," he said, after reminding the council that he has asked it several times to pass a resolution showing its support.

Measures in Congress call for the federal government to pay 40 percent of the costs of schooling students with disabilities. In the mid-1970s, a federal judge ordered the federal government to pay that amount in order to facilitate the public school education of disabled students. In reality, the government has never funded anywhere close to that percentage.

At an Aug. 26 meeting, Council President Donald Klemp said the council still had unanswered questions about supporting the measures in Congress.

Riccobono told Klemp he had plenty of time between the last council meeting and Monday’s meeting to get any answers he may have wanted, and that he never tried to contact any of the offices which would have the answers.

"This is something that could potentially lower our taxes," Riccobono said. "Even a small amount of savings on property taxes would be a help, an aid."

At the last council meeting, Mayor William Neary asked Riccobono where the federal money would come from to pay for increased IDEA funding. Riccobono responded it would come from taxes, but said it was better for it to come from federal taxes than local property taxes.

At Monday’s meeting, Neary said Americans get far less than a dollar back for every dollar they pay in federal taxes.

"It’s not just a matter of passing a resolution, and money falls out of the sky," he said.

Klemp said the council has worked hard to reduce taxes, and cited its limitations on development.

Council Vice President Saul Fink said the Board of Education already passed a resolution asking the federal government to more funding for the special education program. He said this is a federal issue, and the council has to concentrate on local issues.

He also said he sent a letter to Congressman Rush Holt regarding the IDEA funding.

Riccobono responded that there is strength in numbers, and the governing body has more influence than individual residents.

Cathy Diem, who is running for council as a Democrat, said she attends board meetings, and noted that the board passed the resolution earlier this year. She said she has also sent e-mails to Congress.

After the meeting, she said the issue of getting more IDEA funding has "been an ongoing concern," and that it is "a convenient time (for Republicans) to bring it up."

David Stahl, another Democrat running for council, said if it was not for the current township council, "not one inch of this town would be open space." The open space preservation has helped keep taxes low and schools from becoming more crowded.

"Actions that go on in Washington, D.C., though they may affect us, are distant," he said.

Michael DeLucia, a resident, urged the council to pass the resolution.

"Why the resistance to turn around and write that this would help the citizens of this town?" he asked.

He said he sees very few New Jersey legislators involved in push for increased IDEA funding, and has not seen anything from Holt regarding the issue.

"Why someone would not want to support that legislation is beyond me," he said.