Under Gov’s Proposal, Students, Families Saddled with an Additional Financial Burden From Tuition Increases, Financial Aid Reductions
(TRENTON) — Assembly Budget Committee Vice Chair Gary S. Schaer (D-Passaic) today issued a multimedia package highlighting the impact of higher education funding cuts in Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed FY 2011 budget on New Jersey’s middle class students and families.
The $173 million reduction in funding for higher education will force state colleges and universities to increase tuitions; curtail successful and needed tuition assistance programs; and slam students and families attempting to cope with the bad news in the rest of the budget.
The multimedia package consists of a video on the higher education cuts, audio of the same and a transcript of Schaer’s remarks, as prepared for delivery.
The video can be accessed directly via our Web site — www.assemblydems.com — or by clicking here.
The audio file is available upon request.
A transcript of Schaer’s remarks is appended below:
“In today’s economy, a college degree is a requirement to even be considered for employment in most job markets.
“At a time when we should be investing in higher education, Governor Christie has chosen to go in the exact opposite direction — slashing higher education funding by $173 million in his proposed budget.
“These cuts are unsettling because our colleges and universities are engines of economic growth.
“A funding cut of this magnitude will result in tuition increases and restrict successful and popular tuition assistance programs, making a college education that much more of a financial burden for middle class students and families.
“Worse, these cuts will only hasten New Jersey’s higher education brain drain, forcing more of the best and brightest students to leave the state for college, with little hope of them returning after graduation.
“Under Governor Christie’s budget plan that cuts services, cuts education funding, cuts property tax rebates and slams New Jerseyans with large property tax increases, New Jersey students and families would also have to shoulder the cost of increased tuition.
“For more information about higher education cuts, this year’s budget or for help with any other questions you may have, feel free to contact my office by phone or e-mail.”
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