ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 32

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

By Assemblyman ZISA and Assemblywoman WEINBERG

An Assembly Resolution urging the State Board of Education to petition the Board of Public Utilities to adopt a special rate schedule for public school districts.

Whereas, Public school districts in New Jersey are nonprofit entities which rely upon public funding, both State and local, to finance their operations; and

Whereas, The cost of educating students has risen dramatically over the past several years while at the same time increases in State funding to school districts has been limited; and

Whereas, In addition to the limited nature of additional State aid which has been made available to school districts, districts are also struggling to accomodate rising costs within the maximum permissible spending limits (CAPS) which are annually imposed on school district budgets by the State; and

Whereas, Within school district budgets there are certain fixed cost items over which districts have no control and increases in which are particularly difficult to accomodate in light of district budget caps; and

Whereas, Utility rates paid by public school districts are one such fixed cost item within each district's budget and one which has risen to a level that is causing a significant financial burden upon the taxpayers of many districts; now, therefore,

    Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. The State Board of Education is urged to petition the Board of Public Utilities to undertake a review of the utility rates charged to public school districts and to adopt a special rate schedule of lower utility rates for school districts thereby easing the financial impact of such rates on school budgets.

    2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk thereof shall be transmitted to the members of the State Board of Education and the Commissioner of Education.

STATEMENT

    This resolution urges the State Board of Education to petition the Board of Public Utilities to undertake a review of the utility rates charged to public school districts and adopt a special rate schedule of lower utility rates for school districts.

Urges State Board of Education to petition the Board of Public Utilities to adopt a special rate schedule for public school districts.