Editorial: Vote NO on Ballot Question

NJ Star Ledger: The only question on the ballot on Nov. 6 asks voters whether to approve the $500 million in new debt for school security, county colleges, vocational schools and water infrastructure. The constitution requires that new debts obtain voter approval. (this will not go to private schools)

Many desperate and worthy causes are left to fester in New Jersey, like NJ Transit or the ramshackle rail tunnels we depend on to get into Manhattan, or the raging opioid crisis. That's how it is when you're broke. Our state is drowning in debt, yet our lawmakers continue to pile on more, while sidestepping the tough part - finding a way to pay for the things we want, whether it's with a tax or a fee.

 Public question #1 on the ballot for Nov. 6 again asks you to go along with this nonsense. Will you approve the borrowing of $500 million for capital improvements to public schools and community colleges, with no designated way to pay it back?
Please vote "no."


Certainly, these are good causes, and they should be funded. The first $350 million is intended for two purposes: expanding our vocational schools for students clamoring to get in, and improving school security. It's unclear how exactly this would be divvied up, which is sloppy, but increasing our workforce for technical jobs that are hard to fill is good for our state's business climate.

A separate $50 million for county college vocational programs would do the same thing. And we're all for safe schools.

Most compelling of all is the final piece: $100 million for grants to remove lead from the drinking water in schools. The lead in Newark's water is especially alarming, given the complexity of solving the problem. Yet we need a more serious approach than this bonding provides.

Why not include a permanent line item in the state budget to help rid cities of lead in the water, the way we do lead paint? Or pass a law to allow a targeted subsidy program, so the cost of fixing the water system doesn't land hardest on poor ratepayers?

Otherwise, all we are doing is bonding to give Newark and hundreds of other districts the chance to compete for a limited pot of aid for lead in school water, while from the time they're in diapers, kids are drinking, inhaling or licking lead off the walls at home - a much bigger health concern. The Legislature should hold a special session and find a better, broader solution.

Lawmakers had originally asked to borrow $1 billion for these causes, and Gov. Phil Murphy cut the sum in half, saying we can't afford it. At $500 million, that still holds true. New Jersey carries the nation's fifth highest debt load, at $33 billion, and servicing that debt costs $4.1 billion in this year's budget.

It's money we could be spending on a host of good causes, but instead are paying to bondholders. Now the Legislature is repeating the same lazy mistake that got us here, spending without paying.

At least, this time, something useful is at the core of it, unlike former Gov. Chris Christie's sole executive decision to spend $300 million massively renovating the Statehouse. It's legitimate to issue bonds for one-shot costs that we can pay off over a period of many years, when the investment saves more in the long run.

But we can't just borrow billions without finding a way to pay for it, like bumping the sales tax a penny or two, or imposing a fee. And that's what this is asking you to do. Reject the ballot question.