SCR6

A Concurrent Resolution proposing to amend Article VIII, Section IV, paragraph 1 of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey.

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):

1. The following proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State of New Jersey is agreed to:

1. The Legislature shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools for the instruction of all children in the State between the ages of five and 18 years. Maintenance and support shall be provided by the funding of a system of free public schools through a combination of State and local taxing district revenues. However, no local real property taxes shall be assessed, levied or collected in order to fund the schools, except those real property taxes necessary to satisfy the local share for capital outlay and maintenance purposes, special education, transportation, services for at-risk pupils, and for debt service. The balance of funds necessary to maintain a thorough and efficient system of free public schools including the State share for capital outlay and maintenance purposes, special education, transportation, services for at-risk pupils, and for debt service, as shall be determined by law, shall be provided by the State from State revenues.

2. When this proposed amendment to the Constitution is finally agreed to, pursuant to Article IX, paragraph 1 of the Constitution, it shall be submitted to the people at the next general election occurring more than three months after the final agreement and shall be published at least once in at least one newspaper of each county designated by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly and the Secretary of State, not less than three months prior to the general election.

3. This proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be submitted to the people at the election in the following manner and form:

There shall be printed on each official ballot to be used at the general election, the following:

a. In every municipality in which voting machines are not used, a legend which shall immediately precede the question, as follows:

If you favor the proposition printed below make a cross (x), plus (+) or check () in the square opposite the word "Yes."

If you are opposed thereto make a cross (x), plus (+) or check () in the square opposite the word "No."

		LIMIT ON USE OF LOCAL REAL PROPERTY TAXES FOR THOROUGH AND EFFICIENT EDUCATION
	YES	Do you approve of the amendment of Article VIII, Section IV, paragraph 1 of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey, providing that the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools be provided through a combination of State revenues and local tax district revenues with local real property taxes used only to fund the local share for capital outlay and maintenance, special education, transportation, services for at-risk pupils, and debt service, and the balance of funds including the State share for capital outlay and maintenance, special education, transportation, services for at-risk pupils, and for debt service, as shall be determined by law, be provided by the State from State revenues?
		INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT
	NO	This constitutional amendment prescribes the manner in which funding shall be provided for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools throughout the State. The system is to be funded by a combination of State revenues and locally raised tax revenue. However, local real property taxes can only be used to meet the local share of the costs for capital outlay and maintenance, special education, transportation, services for at-risk pupils, and debt service, while the State would be responsible for the balance of funding including the State share for capital outlay and maintenance, special education, transportation, services for at-risk pupils, and for debt service.

This proposed amendment would limit the use of local real property taxes to fund the system of free public schools to relieve the burden of supporting the public schools put upon many local municipalities. This proposed amendment specifies that local real property taxes can only be used for educational purposes to pay the local share for capital outlay and maintenance, special education, transportation, services for at-risk pupils, and debt service while the State would be responsible for the balance of the funding including the State share for capital outlay and maintenance, special education, transportation, services for at-risk pupils, and for debt service.

Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to limit the use of local real property taxes for funding public education.