N.J. Education Commissioner says voters won’t raise taxes to pay more for teachers

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s Education Commissioner says New Jersey voters will not support higher taxes to pay for rising school salaries and benefits.
In testimony before the Assembly budget committee, Education Commissioner Bret Schundler said the rejection of 58 percent of proposed local school budgets last week sends a message, “Our public schools are in financial crisis but New Jerseyans know that raising taxes is not the answer. We need to listen to voters lest next year 60 percent of elected officials be rejected.”

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s Education Commissioner says New Jersey voters will not support higher taxes to pay for rising school salaries and benefits.

In testimony before the Assembly budget committee, Education Commissioner Bret Schundler said the rejection of 58 percent of proposed local school budgets last week sends a message, “Our public schools are in financial crisis but New Jerseyans know that raising taxes is not the answer. We need to listen to voters lest next year 60 percent of elected officials be rejected.”

Budget Committee Chairman Lou Greeenwald had a quick reaction, “I think the Governor should be very worried about that comment because I think he’s had probably the single largest tax increase on property taxpayers than any Governor since I’ve been here.”

Greenwald said voters were asking to get rid of waste, not the increase in class size and the elimination of junior varsity athletics some schools are making because of the drop in aid in the Governor’s budget plan.