(TRENTON) – Assembly Appropriations Chairman John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland) released the following statement after Thursday’s budget hearing on education spending:
“It’s very concerning to see the Christie administration demanding hundreds of school districts pay more in debt service on construction projects.
“It’s bad enough that 82.5 percent of schools are receiving less aid under Gov. Christie.
“And it was bad enough that residents have been hit with a net 20 percent property tax hike.
“But now districts must deal with this additional debt service increase, which is either a hidden property tax hike from the Christie administration or even more school cuts.
“Spiking debt payments to school districts – many of whom are already receiving less state aid – is the wrong direction for our state, its schools and our taxpayers. It has a negative impact on either property taxes or educational programs.”