Christie boosts direct aid to schools but facilities help is still under construction
Gov. Chris Christie has long said higher education would be one of his priorities once the state’s fiscal crisis eased. This week he was as good as his word, announcing a 6 percent increase in direct aid to colleges and universities in his fiscal 2013 budget.
But missing from the speech — and his budget — was his long-discussed intention to provide the schools with major facilities help, likely in the form of a capital bond. The state has not seen a major bond for higher education since 1988.
Yesterday, the governor said the idea was still alive and under discussion with state Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex). But he made no promises, and could only express some hope it would be accomplished this year.
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