Schools

Bramnick Challenges Legislative Democrats to Find Ways to Save Christie School Cuts

Assemblyman said legislature will review governor's proposed budget.

Assemblyman Jon Bramnick (D-Westfield) challenged Assembly Democrats to help develop a plan that could ward off the drastic cuts to state aid proposed by Gov. Chris Christie.

Christie's proposed budget, which includes calling for cuts to municipal aid and school aid, now heads to the legislature. The budget committees of both chambers will start conducting hearings. Bramnick, the Assembly Republicans' second in command and a budget committee member, said he is expecting the majority party Democrats to help develop a plan regarding Christie's budget cuts.

"I think we know that there is tough medicine needed," Bramnick said about the governor's budget proposal. "There will be further discussion by the legislature. It is up to the Democrats in the legislature to come up with a better plan than proposed if they disagree with the governor."

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Christie's proposal, which includes slashing school aid for districts by up to five percent of the total school district budget has received harsh reaction from state Democrats and local school officials. In Westfield, the Board of Education had been planning for a potential cut of 15-percent of last year's state aid payment - roughly $750,000 - and is now changing the budget to accommodate the $4.22 million state aid cut the Christie administrator announced Wednesday. The school district has until March 30 to develop a balanced budget. The first cut was based on a speech by state Education Commissioner Bret Schundler earlier this month to suburban school leaders.

Bramnick, the parent of two Westfield public school alums, said Christie needed to make cuts based on the fiscal situation and whatever the final budget is by the end of June, there will be cuts. He said it is now up to the legislature to determine the cuts. He said from his understanding, Christie is willing to work with the legislature in determining a final budget. He noted he hopes the changes can prevent steeps cuts to Westfield.

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"Do I like cuts to my hometown?" Bramnick said. "No, I don't like cuts."

The state Department of Education and the state Department of Community Affairs have not released the education and municipal aid figures, respectively. The school aid figure is likely to cause the bigger immediate issue in town, as the school board has the short budget window. It is possible that the legislature could return more money to the board in the final budget, but those numbers will not be known until the summer, leaving the board to work with the figures determined by Christie's budget proposal.

Bramnick said he has not studied the Westfield school budget, and is uncomfortable providing specific ideas on how the BOE can make cuts. Schools Superintendent Margaret Dolan said her office will be working to develop cuts to the spending plan in the next two weeks.

Bramnick said he disagrees with Westfield Education Association President Kim Schumacher that the governor is anti-teacher. Schumacher made the characterization based on Christie's proposed education cuts, along with changes to the benefits and pension systems for public employees. Bramnick said the governor's issue is more with Schumacher and her counterparts in the union leadership.

"No absolutely not," Bramnick said when asked if Christie is anti-teacher. "He has problems with the unions, that's for sure."

Bramnick, echoing lines from Christie and other GOP leaders, placed the blame for the cuts not at the governor but at former Democratic Govs. Jon Corzine, Dick Codey and Jim McGreevey. He said their fiscal plans led Christie to make the decisions he did.

"When you have an administration for eight years that keeps borrowing, it is a painful time," he said. "If they had been responsible for eight years, the numbers would be realistic."

In other parts of the budget, Bramnick said he is pleased with the changes Christie is proposing to extraordinary aid to municipal governments. He said the new plan will allow for the aid to be assigned based on a formula and not on political favouritism, which he said has been past practice.

Bramnick also noted he is studying the proposed constitutional amendment from Christie, which would limit future property tax hikes by two and a half percent. He said he wants to know how hard of a cap that will be and if there will be any flexibility for a local government or school district in the future in case of a need to exceed the cap.

Bramnick said he has not had any private conversations with Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange) or other Democratic leaders regarding the budget, but he plans to work with them during the negotiations.

"I am sure Chris is open to some changes," Bramnick said. "It's not an easy time."

 


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