Local officials respond
to expected aid freeze
Various municipal officials returning from the recent state convention in Atlantic City said they learned that Gov. James McGreevey is likely to freeze state aid again in 2003.
McGreevey told municipal officials that, due to the state budget deficit, aid to their towns and schools would probably by frozen for a second straight year.
"It is extremely disappointing in light of the fact that we had to make so many cuts this year," said Donald Peterson, president of the Board of Education in Jamesburg, a town which saw a 39-cent school tax rate increase for this school year and has been forced to cut staff and programs.
"That is not the type of reaction you’d expect from someone who says they’re a pro-education governor," Peterson added.
McGreevey reportedly made the announcement during the League of Municipalities’ annual convention last month.
It would mean that municipalities and schools throughout the state would have to make do with the same funding that they received last year, and the year before.
McGreevey froze aid to towns and school districts last year in order to cover a multibillion dollar shortfall in the state budget.
The move forced property tax increases throughout the state.
Sayreville Board of Education member Arthur Rittenhouse, also a member of the New Jersey School Boards Association, said he wants board members to keep in mind that state aid may be frozen again next year as they begin the budgetary process.
"I can foresee, again, no increase in state aid, which will have a direct impact on our budget," Rittenhouse said. "I think it’s a very serious situation."
Sayreville Mayor Kennedy O’Brien agreed that the possible freeze in state aid could put the borough in a difficult position, particularly because of the increase in insurance premiums.
"In Sayreville, I try to provide the best service to our residents for the lowest possible tax dollars. Anytime you have a fall-off in revenue, it causes you to take a very hard look at the services that you’re able to deliver for the tax dollars you collect," O’Brien said.
East Brunswick Superintendent of Schools Jamie P. Savedoff said he has learned that no final decision had been made by the governor as of this week regarding state aid.
"I hope it (the decision to freeze aid) won’t be made, because that would be two years in a row with frozen state aid, which would just be a disaster for us," Savedoff said. "Just to roll over the existing programs without any additional revenue from the state, you’re going to incur a tax increase. It might mean cutting programs, which would be very hurtful for us."
South Brunswick Township Manager Barbara Sacks, who said she heard McGreevey’s announcement firsthand that the aid freeze was "likely," stated that the possible freeze "was predictable given the deficits the state is looking at."