JERSEY CITY AND BEYOND — The Jersey City school board, at a special meeting and public hearing on Monday, passed the $618.8 million budget for the 2010-2011 school year by a 5-4 vote.
The public will get to vote on the budget during the April 20 board election.
The budget means 373 employees will be laid off. The budget calls for $103 million in taxes from Jersey City residents.
The reduction in employees and the increase in the tax levy is the result of the announcement by Gov. Chris Christie that Jersey City is losing over $30 million in state funding for the 2010-2011 school year.
Voting in favor of the budget were board president William DeRosa, Angel Valentin, Dr. Peter Donnelly, Frances Thompson and Pat Sebron. Voting against the budget were Gerald McCann, Sean Connors, Terry Dehere and Suzanne Mack. McCann, Dehere and Valentin are running for reelection in this year’s school board election.
McCann almost dominated the meeting when he called for an amendment to the budget, before it was voted upon, to redirect an estimated $30 million set aside for wage increases that could come about when and if the proposed teacher’s contract is ratified (having been rejected by the board at its March 18 meeting). McCann said he wanted the money used to stave off the layoffs.
The amendment was voted down 3-6 after much debate.
Read more this weekend in the Jersey City Reporter. – RK
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