Associated Press
TRENTON — Democrats on a state Senate panel are hoping to get a better idea about how much Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed realignment of higher education will cost taxpayers.
Higher Education Secretary Rochelle Hendricks is due to appear Tuesday before the Budget Committee to answer questions about the governor’s proposed budget for colleges and universities and student financial aid.
Christie has proposed increasing higher education spending by 5 percent over the current year’s budget, boosting it to more than $2 billion.
Sen. Sandra Cunningham of Jersey City, who chairs the chamber’s Higher Education Committee and also sits on the budget panel, says lawmakers have no official figures on the cost of reorganizing the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Rutgers and Rowan universities.
Christie wants the reorganization finalized by July.
from http://www.northjersey.com/news/education/041012_NJ_Democrats_seek_cost_estimate_on_university_merger.html