Describes New Jersey's budget difficulties, caused essentially by the reluctance of the state legislature to enact tax reforms. Severe cutbacks in state university funds were partially averted due to revenue increases, including a two percent increase in the corporation business tax and a boost in motor vehicle registration fees. (MLH)

This report summarizes the status of states' budgets at the end of fiscal year 1997. The year's strong national economy boosted tax revenues and helped to decrease welfare rolls. Unemployment at the end of 1997 was below 5 percent nationally and real GDP growth was 3.5 percent for the first 3 quarters of the year. These indicators translate into…

For the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), the year after Proposition 13 was passed was one of almost constant reappraisal of priorities, of shifting programs and services to make the most of every available dollar, and of nearly constant uncertainty. Some of the effects of Proposition 13 were reductions in the numbers of part-time…

This paper traces the historical development of New York State Small City School District (SCSD) school budget voting policy. State policymakers are currently debating whether to change from representative to referendum school budget voting in SCSDs. Following a historical analysis of the current debate, the argument is made that there no longer…

This paper highlights the major federal and state public policy issues that will affect higher education in 2001 and 2002. Its purpose is to provide board members and other higher education officials with brief descriptions of the most important public policy issues. Each issue is defined, with a brief summary and a discussion in greater depth.…

This paper is the seventh in a biennial series summarizing state and federal public policy issues affecting higher education. The purpose is to provide board members and other higher education officials with brief descriptions of the most important public policy issues. In one way or another, most of the public policy issues cited in this paper…

In a collection of statistical summaries, the following information regarding New Mexico two-year colleges is presented for each institution: (1) 1977-78 average full-time faculty salaries; (2) 1975-76 unrestricted expenditures for instruction, academic support, student services, institutional support, and plant operation; (3) local district tax…

In 1994 and 1995, most school-finance legislation at the state level dealt with state aid--36 out of 127 bills introduced in 1994 and 31 out of 212 bills introduced in 1995. This report presents 13 tables that summarize the content of state legislation and identify bills that addressed the formation of study committees, the use of lottery funds to…

Three reports are presented that address the problem of implementing 1978-79 contingency plans developed by the Los Angeles Community College District in response to a June 1978 property tax reduction initiative, Proposition 13. Report No. 1 provides an overview of district problems resulting from the tax limitation measure. Fiscal and educational…

The Oregon educational system confronts a set of legislative challenges similar to, yet different from, the rest of the nation. Like the rest of the nation, distrust of government runs high, politicians are wary of raising or restructuring taxes, the economy is expanding, and the November 1994 state election shook up the political leadership of…

This document begins by presenting a general summary of Iowa's current school finance law, which dates back to steps taken in 1967 by the 62nd General Assembly, and by providing a current state aid chronology, organized by year, general assembly number, session, bill, and major features. Subsequent sections provide descriptions of the following:…