Sequestration Could Impact Somerset Hills Schools' 2013-14 Budget

Somerset Hills schools face the deadline to submit the 2013-2014 budget to the county next week with uncertainty as to whether $85 billion in federal "sequestration" spending cuts will be stopped by Congress before Friday. 

Districts will learn their state aid figures this week after Gov. Chris Christie delivers his fiscal year 2014 budget address Tuesday afternoon.

Somerset Hills Business Administrator Nancy Lee Hunter said Monday that she believes it is too soon to say what the impact would be on that regional school system.

In addition, she said, the proposal as it stands right now might not go through on Friday. She said she believes the district should wait until after that to determine how the cuts might affect the district.

Bedminster Township School Business Administrator Philip Acosta did not return a request for comment Monday. But the district is already focusing on huge loses with the prospect of .

The current outlook is for a 10 percent increase—which puts the budget on the ballot in November—if cuts cannot be made.

The release of the state aid figures triggers a sequence of events related to the budget process, as the budget is due to the county for review March 7.

New Jersey could lose nearly $12 million in funding for primary and secondary education if Congress fails to halt the “sequestration” by Friday, according to figures released by the White House. 

"I am sure it would affect us, but I have no idea how much," Somerset County Freeholder Peter Palmer said Monday.

Palmer said he believes that estimating the impact is meaningless at this point.

"Something will happen between now and Friday," he said.

Palmer added that he believes something must be done to address federal spending, but he wouldn't be surprised if the issue is pushed off into the future again.

Palmer, a Republican, also said he believes the Obama administration is aiming the cuts at areas that would hurt the most people, so as to create the most public opposition to proposed spending reductions.

"That's the way the game is played," he said.

Rep. Leonard Lance, R-7, said Monday that he would support the across-the-board cuts taking effect on Friday as planned.

"I am among those who support a more laser-like approach toward reducing spending and our national debt that exceeds $16 trillion," he said.

"Republican voted twice, in May and December of last year, to replace the current sequester with smarter, more targeted cuts," he added. "Yet the President opposed those efforts and for his part has failed to put forth serious, credible alternative. I certainly believe the president needs to show more leadership on this issue."

Without action from Congress, the sequester would go into effect automatically on March 1, reducing spending by the state in a number of areas, including education, the environment, health, military and law enforcement, the White House said.

The cuts, according to the Obama administration, could jeopardize 160 teacher and aide jobs in New Jersey, as well as cut funding to 60 schools and 15,000 students.

Funding would be cut to the early childhood education program Head Start, vaccination programs for children and health services for seniors, among other things, and thousands of civilian Department of Defense employees could be furloughed, according to the White House.

The total federal spending cuts under the sequester add up to about $1.2 trillion over the next nine years.

Republicans have accused the president of using the impending cuts for political gain.

President Barack Obama's plan asks for increased tax revenues to offset some of the trillion-dollar cuts.