BY ANA M. ALAYA
Star-Ledger Staff

Lawmakers said they want Gov. Jon Corzine to restore $2.5 million to NJ STARS for next year while they explore other ways to scale back ballooning costs and fix fundamental problems with the college scholarship program.

Students and college leaders told the Assembly Higher Education Committee in Trenton yesterday they oppose the governor's budget proposal to impose a $100,000 family income limit on eligibility for NJ STARS, which guarantees a free county college education to top high school graduates. The intention is to keep the best and brightest students in-state.

The change would disqualify about 700 to 800 high school stu dents planning to attend county colleges on STARS in September.

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