When the taxpayers are burdened, you hear about the property tax rate and not the programs the schools are providing.
It means higher property taxes, period. . . . Whether funding is flat or slightly reduced, it's the community that has to make up for the difference.
The evidence is quite clear, it does help students from any economic strata.
A few school districts -- Paterson, Irvington, Trenton and Atlantic City -- are also scheduling closings on certain Islamic holidays.
It was a very short-term approach to the issue. The intention was to provide property tax relief. In reality, it provides very little relief, and property taxes will increase in a majority of districts this year.
The people of New Jersey do have a history of supporting public education. So despite the problems with state budgets and property taxes, I do think we will see a majority of budgets approved by voters.
That money is no longer there, and now there is a gap. We'll see increases in property taxes result from that.
