Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2), a candidate for Jersey City mayor, is exclaiming that he is “absolutely appalled” by the proposed $4 million state cuts for the local board of education.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“I am absolutely appalled by the proposed state budget that would cut $4 million in state funding from our Jersey City public schools. This is a blatant disregard for the education and well-being of our students,” O’Dea said in a statement.
“I have been vocal in advocating for the state formula to be corrected to ensure that our Jersey City students receive the resources and support they deserve. Jersey City faces yet another cut while a city like Paterson that is similar in many ways is set to receive $35 million more than last year — that is unfair, unacceptable and disgusting.”
On Tuesday, Gov. Phil Murphy (D) proposed a nearly $58.1 billion budget that includes a $4,005,363 cut to the Jersey City Public Schools – which would be the largest one in the state.
The prior fiscal year, the Jersey City BOE received $133,637,556 in state aid, and this year it would be down to $129,632,193, a loss of about three percent.
“It is unconscionable to see our schools continue to be robbed of hundreds of millions of dollars in much needed state funding at a time when so many of our students are struggling with poverty and other severe challenges,” O’Dea added.
“This further punishment is just rubbing more salt in the wound, and every state legislator who represents Jersey City should stand with us against these cuts.”
O’Dea has the endorsement of the Jersey City Education Association PAC and has a close relationship with the teachers union heading into the non-partisan November 4th mayoral race.
He is currently facing off with Ward E Councilman James Solomon, Council President Joyce Watterman, ex-Board of Education President Mussab Ali, and former Gov. Jim McGreevey.
Let me get it straight. JC BOE budget is over $ 1B. That is one thousand of whole millions. Then, they milk poor people all over Garden State claiming to be impoverished (Abbott District still after 40 years and subsidizing foreign developers at the same time). Then, poor Bill O’Dea gets PTSD over $ 4M cut of outside subsidy from Trenton.
Is that suppose to be a joke?
It’s obvious you don’t know how to run a school, nor the behind the scenes Trenton bullshit that got us here.