LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE TO

SENATE, No. 820

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: July 15, 1996

      Senate Bill No. 820 of 1996 provides for a case study of the governance and organization of public school districts on a pilot basis, using a single county as a demonstration project. Under the bill, the study would be done in Hunterdon County. The study would be undertaken by an advisory committee consisting of 23 members including, from the county, 4 municipal officials, a freeholder, 2 members of the general public, 2 high school board members, 2 elementary school board members, 1 member of the county vocational school board, 3 school superintendents, 2 teachers and the county superintendent of schools, and 5 public members from other areas of the State. The Commissioner of Education and the members of the Legislature representing the county would be ex-officio, non-voting members of the committee. The committee is to conduct a study of the organization and governance of the school districts within the county; to examine possible inefficiencies; review the demographic patterns within the county with regard to space utilization within the schools; study the potential impact and cost effectiveness of an integrated technology system on the quality and availability of educational opportunities; examine possible alternatives to the current governance or organization of the county’s school system; and review the statutes to determine what changes would be necessary or appropriate to facilitate structural changes in the organization and governance of the school districts within the county. The committee is also authorized to employ outside consultants in order to assist the committee in completing the study required by this act.

      The Office of Legislative Services estimates that the appropriation of $250,000 included in the bill should be adequate to fund the work of the committee, including the provision of outside experts or consultants.

      This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67.