After Governor Phil Murphy conditionally vetoed a bill seeking a one billion dollar bond act to fund school improvements, New Jersey's legislature voted unanimously to go along with Murphy's advice to cut the proposed borrowing in half.
In his veto message, Murphy endorsed the goals of the legislation. But he raised concerns about the debt load from borrowing a billion dollars to improve school security, expand vocational-technical schools and community colleges, and help schools pay to replace water pipes.
Senate President Steve Sweeney says he's disappointed.
“I’m not overjoyed with this, but to get it on this year’s ballot we agreed to take half the deal pretty much in order to make some kids can get into vocational schools and we can make our schools safer.”
Judy Savage, the executive director of the New Jersey Council of Vocational-Technical Schools, says 17,000 students were turned away last year from vo-tech schools because they were at capacity.
“This proposed bond act will enable the schools to expand, to add new programs to meet the needs of industry and employers and move the economy forward.”
Voters will decide in November whether to approve the $500 million bond act.