SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1774

with Senate committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 10, 1997

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 1774 with amendments.

      Senate Bill No. 1774, as amended, provides additional supplemental stabilization aid for the 1997-98 school year to certain school districts and county vocational school districts that are eligible under the criteria set forth in the bill. The bill provides for the continuation of this aid in future years upon the recommendation of the Commissioner of Education in accordance with procedures provide in current law.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS

      The committee amended the bill to provide additional aid for the Hoboken school district and for the vocational school districts in Mercer, Middlesex, Essex, Ocean and Morris Counties.

FISCAL IMPACT 

      The enactment of this bill would cost the State approximately $4.8 million in the 1997-98 school year. The additional aid would be distributed as follows: approximately $1.8 million for the Willingboro Township school district; approximately $1 million for the Hoboken school district; approximately $104,000 for the Bergen County vocational school district; approximately $212,000 for the Mercer County vocational school district; approximately $1 million for the Middlesex County vocational school district; approximately $385,000 for the Essex County vocational school district; approximately $300,000 for the Ocean County vocational school district; and approximately $23,000 for the Morris county vocational school district.