TRENTON — Most New Jersey voters want more education spending, but nearly as many don't want the Supreme Court to force the state to pump more money into schools, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll being released today. “The state Supreme Court case on school spending could scramble the budget and voter opinions are mixed," said Maurice Carroll,...
TRENTON — Most New Jersey voters want more education spending, but nearly as many don't want the Supreme Court to force the state to pump more money into schools, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll being released today.
“The state Supreme Court case on school spending could scramble the budget and voter opinions are mixed," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "They favor spending more on schools but they don’t think the court should tell the Legislature to do it."
Sixty percent of voters said schools should get more money, compared to 36 percent who disagreed. Meanwhile, 53 percent said the court should not order more spending, as opposed to 42 percent who want the court's involvement.
The question of whether the state's highest court should weigh in on New Jersey's current school funding dilemma was raised on Wednesday during the latest hearing in the long-running case of Abbott v. Burke.
Education advocates say Gov. Chris Christie's budget cuts are unconstitutional because the state is obligated to provide a "thorough and efficient system of free public schools." They want the court to order the state to spend an additional $1.7 billion on schools in the upcoming fiscal year.
The state argued that budget cuts did not create a constitutional problem, saying it was forced to cut spending because of a fiscal crisis. Because of that, the state said the court not interfere.
Today's poll also finds support for Christie's education proposals. Sixty-nine percent support merit pay for teachers, and 62 percent want to limit tenure.
Related coverage:
• Gov. Christie's legal team tells N.J. Supreme Court to keep hands off education dollars
• Advocate tells N.J. Supreme Court state aid cuts deprived children of adequate education
• Supreme Court hears Abbott arguments - live coverage
• Poll: What should the Supreme Court decide in the Abbott case?