ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2645

with Assembly committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 20, 1997

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 2645, with committee amendments.

      Assembly Bill No. 2645, as amended, changes the "Comprehensive Educational Improvement and Financing Act of 1996" to provide additional supplemental stabilization aid to school districts which had enrollment increases in resident enrollment between the October 1993 and October 1994 enrollment counts and between the October 1994 and October 1995 enrollment counts.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      It was estimated that enactment of this bill, as amended, would cost the State approximately $1,895,973 in the 1997-98 school year. The additional aid would be $1,791,716 for Willingboro Township School District and $104,257 for the Bergen County Vocational and Technical School District.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The amendments correct the formula in the legislation to allow for the above amounts in the fiscal impact and clarify that the additional aid received by the eligible districts will be available to fund programs in 1997-98 school year.