Manzo plans ed legislation
Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Assemblyman Lou Manzo, D-Jersey City, plans to introduce two bills next week that would raise construction money for higher-ed facilities and offset tuition costs, he announced yesterday at a news conference at New Jersey City University.

The Higher Education Bond Act of 2007 would authorize the issuance of $3 billion in general obligation bonds to finance the construction of higher education facilities - $1.05 billion earmarked for state colleges - and to establish a student loan program.

Roughly $50 million would be used to establish a revolving loan fund for making low-interest loans to New Jersey residents enrolled in college, Manzo added.

The second bill would establish "campus zones" in which 50 percent of the sales tax from retail sales would go toward offsetting tuition costs for New Jersey residents in college.

KEN THORBOURNE