Christie Budget Cuts' Impact on Westfield Unclear

Gov. Chris Christie announced Thursday a decision to cut $475 million in state aid to schools as part of a plan to solve a $1.3 billion deficit in the current state budget.

The funding cut would be implemented for districts waiting for additional state aid but have a surplus available. With the schools closed due to the Blizzard of 2010, Board of Education officials could not be reached for immediate comment on the impact of the plan on current budget discussions.

BOE Business Administrator Bob Berman briefed the board last month during preliminary discussions on the 2010-2011 school budget, that there is uncertainty in the local school district business community statewide because of the possibility of cuts as the Christie Administration develops plans to plug the hole in the current state budget. Another round of cuts is expected in March when the new governor announces his proposed budget for the state fiscal year starting on July 1.

While the immediate impact of Christie's cuts could not be estimated for Westfield, one resident is supportive of the announcement. Assemblyman Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield), a member of the budget committee, said he is in support of the cuts the governor announced yesterday, saying they are needed because of the current fiscal situation in the state.

"I think it's tough medicine for a tough problem," Bramnick said.

Bramnick said the governor made the decision to cut state aid for towns with surpluses in order to not touch the current operating budgets of the school districts. He said is not sure of the exact impact on Westfield or how it will impact the budget the Board of Education is drafting for the next school year.

"This is the way to solve the problem without effecting classrooms," Bramnick said.

In terms of the cuts Christie announced to the state subsidy for New Jersey Transit, Bramnick does not believe that commuters on mass transit system's train and bus lines will see cuts to service or fare hikes to begin with. He noted that in his speech to the state legislature yesterday, the governor noted a need to renegotiate contracts with the transit system's unions to cut money from the system's budget.

Bramnick said the cuts, which Christie can implement without legislative approval due to the fiscal state of emergency the governor signed yesterday, are needed. Following refrains from the governor's speech, Bramnick said the problems were inherited from former Gov. Jon Corzine. A spokesman for Corzine's transition office sent out a statement yesterday disputing that the former governor left the deficit that Christie says exists.

"He was left with a very difficult situation and he's doing his best to fix it," Bramnick said.