Common Sense For New Hampshire

To whoever agreed to put the Fair School Funding resolution on tomorrow night’s agenda, thank you. 

 As you know, Trenton’s abusive policies towards towns like Belmar is the core issue driving my political involvement.  It’s very gratifying to have actually been able to get something done about it.

RESOLUTION 2011-

RESOLUTION FOR FAIR DISTRIBUTION OF

STATE AID FOR EDUCATION

WHEREAS, the Borough of Belmar, County of Monmouth believes that every child

should have equal resources of state aid distributed by the legislature for an education in the State

of New Jersey by utilizing a fair school funding mechanism; and

WHEREAS, the current distribution of state aid for education to the schools has not been

distributed in a fair and equitable manner to provide property tax relief to all the citizens of the

State of New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, Article III., Paragraph 1, of the New Jersey State Constitution states, “The

powers of government shall be divided among three distinct branches, the legislative, executive,

and judicial. No person or persons belonging to or constituting one branch shall exercise any of

the powers properly belonging to either of the others, except as expressly provided in this

Constitution;” and

WHEREAS,Article VIII, Section IV, Paragraph 1, of the New Jersey State Constitution

states, “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 eighteen year;” and

WHEREAS, Article VIII, Section IV, Paragraph 2, of the New Jersey State Constitution

states, “the fund for the support of free public schools . . . shall be annually appropriated to the

support of free public schools, and for the equal benefit of all the people of this State;” and

WHEREAS, Article VIII, Section I, Paragraph 7.a. of the New Jersey State Constitution

states, the income tax is to be “annually appropriated . . . exclusively for the purpose of reducing

or offsetting property taxes;” and

WHEREAS, this body can no longer bear the burden of the continued diversion of its

fair share of state school aid for the students between the ages of five and eighteen years of age

who reside within this jurisdiction.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and Council of the Borough

of Belmar, County of Monmouth do hereby call upon the Legislature of the State of New Jersey

to fulfill its constitutionally assigned duty to distribute the state aid for education to the school

districts in this state in a fair manner that is for the equal benefit of all the people of the state and

not by means that are prejudiced by the actions of special interests that may have been presented

before the Court or other venue.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Clerk of this entity is hereby directed to

forward a copy of this resolution to Governor Chris Christie, Senate President Stephen Sweeney,

Senate Minority Leader Thomas Kean Jr., Assemblyman David Rible, Assemblywoman Mary Pat

Angelini, and Senator Sean Kean.

Council member offered the above resolution and moved its adoption. Seconded by Council

member and adopted by the following vote on roll call:

Council members: AYES NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT

Mrs. Deicke

Mr. Magovern

Mr. Wright

Mrs. Nicolay

Mayor Doherty

Adopted:

Hopefully the resolution will pass and we can add Belmar’s voice to the growing list of towns demanding an end to the fleecing of New Jersey’s suburban taxpayers.