Senate Budget Committee Takes Public Input in Paramus

Groups from across the state came to Monday morning to give their input on Gov. Chris Christie's proposed budget to the state Senate budget committee.

Organizations representing the disabled were particularly well represented at the committee's first budget hearing of the year.

Doug Struyk, president and CEO of the Wyckoff-based Christian Health Care center, expressed concerns about this year's decrease in Medicaid funding due to the expiration of a federal stimulus program. From 2008 until Dec. 31, 2010, the state was receiving additional Medicaid funding from a federal economic recovery program.

Struyk said the loss of funding would affect Christian Health Care's ability to operate facilities like Southgate in Wyckoff, which provides treatment for adults with behavioral problems related to dementia and other conditions.

"We have not had any increase in our funding in the last two years," Struyk said.

Sebastian Rodriguez, a trustee on the Teaneck Board of Education, addressed the committee, not for the school board, but for Vacamas for Youth, a nonprofit camp for inner city children in New Jersey. Vacamas is funded by New Jersey After 3, another nonprofit that works to expand after-school programs.

With NJA3 funding, Vacamas provides after school programs in four public schools in Newark's Central Ward and three free weeks of summer camps for 75 children. NJA3 also provides training to Vacamas staff.
Christie's budget proposal removes support for NJA3.

"Please consider funding this important initiative," Rodriguez, supervisor for Vacamas After School Programs, said in a statement, "because it helps students, it helps working parents and because it is the right thing to do."

Bergen Community College students Yisela Barragan and Serafina Riccobono spoke about cuts to the NJSTARS program. The program, which provides grants for community college students, would provide slightly less money under Christie's budget.

The students argued that NJSTARS recipients are among the neediest in the state, and asked the committee to maintain current funding.

"Most NJSTARS students are dependent on their parents and their entire families are depending on this scholarship," Riccobono said.