SCR8

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, the local share of the funding each local real property taxpayer can be required to pay through all local school district real property taxes shall not exceed an equalized tax rate of .75 per $100 of the equalized valuation of the taxing district. The balance of funds necessary to maintain a thorough and efficient system of free public schools 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 LOCAL SHARE OF FUNDING FOR THOROUGH AND EFFICIENT EDUCATION
	YES	Shall 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 and local revenues with the local share which can be raised through local school district real property taxes imposed upon each taxpayer not exceeding a tax imposed at an equalized tax rate of $0.75 per $100 of equalized evaluation of the taxing district, and the balance of funds provided by the State from State revenues, be approved?
		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 revenue and locally raised tax revenue. The local share of the funding that each local taxpayer can be required to pay through local school district real property taxes shall not exceed an equalized tax rate of $0.75 per $100 of the equalized evaluation of the local taxing district. The State is required to provide the balance.

This proposed amendment would limit the use of 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 share would be the amount which can be raised through local school district real property taxes at an equalized tax rate of $0.75 per $100 of equalized evaluation, while the State would be responsible for the balance of the funding.

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