We have advocated for municipalities in Trenton by …

• Provided testimony to the Assembly and Senate Budget Committees concerning Governor Corzine's FY 2007 budget proposal, emphasizing the property tax consequences of aid cuts and "level funding."
• Continued working to educate members of the Legislature on the importance of local governments' authority to exercise the power of eminent domain, in a fair and equitable manner.
• Helped secure passage of legislation to reform, reauthorize and replenish the Transportation Trust Fund, and to increase funding for the Local Aid program.
• Pushed for action to maintain Heavy Truck Rules governing large truck traffic on the state's roads.
• Advocated legislation to address the need for greater flexibility in the Local Government Cap Law, so that essential services and programs can be effectively delivered.
• Met with Governor's Chief of Staff, along with other members of the Citizens' Convention Coalition, in anticipation of the push for progress towards property tax reform, later this Spring.

We have advocated for municipalities in Washington by …

• Continuing to work with our State Delegation to protect the Community Development Block Grant program, the Section 8 Housing Voucher program and other programs vital to our constituents and to community and economic development.
• Cooperating with the National League of Cities (NLC) and other New Jersey and National Associations to educate Members of Congress on the importance of local governments' authority to manage and collect revenue for the use of their local rights-of-way.
• Working with NLC and our Delegation to protect our authority to exercise eminent domain for economic development and to minimize new federal restrictions on the use of eminent domain.
• Educating local officials on the activities of the President's FY 2007 Budget Proposal.

We have strengthened local leadership capacity by …

• Hosting two seminars for Newly and Reelected Officials on January 28 and March 11.
• Conducting a seminar on Pay-to-Play and other ethics issues on March 14.
• Met with the Montville Charter Study Commission to discuss local forms of government.

We have provided municipal officials with resources for problem solving by …

• Through the Bureau of Municipal Information, sending out sample ordinances on request, offering informational legal consultations, making bid specifications available, and providing interlocal services consultations upon request. Sample copies of ordinances are also available online as PDF documents.
• We recently sent mailed our annual surveys so that we may update the Police and Fire Labor Data booklets for 2006. A copy of the survey is also available to municipalities online.
• We recently mailed out our bi-annual license fees surveys so that we may update our "Selected Municipal License Fees" and "Alarm Fees and False Alarm Penalties" booklets. A copy of the survey is also available to municipalities online.
• The first edition of the Arbitration Reporter was published in March.
• Hosting and Administering year-round education seminars to help local officials deal with and solve issues and problems at the municipal level.
• We are continuing to work with Pat Bohse of Bohse and Associates to publish featured articles on our main Grant Resource Center page each month. Some of Pat's 2005 articles will be featured as editorial in New Jersey Municipalities as a new section entitled "Grants Corner".
• The League, in conjunction with GrantStation, now provides a new email service to our members, allowing them to sign up for weekly newsletters that contain announcements and links to available grant opportunities and upcoming programs.
• Establishing the Gang Prevention and Youth Violence Task Force, chaired by Mayor Bob Bowser of East Orange, to develop and promote a comprehensive and compassionate approach to the large and growing gang epidemic infecting New Jersey. Mayor Bowser has represented the League at a Press Conference and at a seminar at Princeton University on the problem; and he has led the Task Force in discussions with the Administration that led to Governor Corzine's new anti-gang initiatives.

We have promoted municipal government by …

• Inducting 20 Governing Body Members into Elected Officials Hall of Fame on January 18. This honor is reserved for those Governing Body Members, both active and retired, who have served twenty years in elected municipal office.
• Conducted the twelfth annual Louis Bay II Future Municipal Leaders Scholarship Competition to advance the virtues of elected and volunteer positions in municipal government while raising awareness of municipal government in general.

The League is your municipal advocate in Trenton. If you have any questions on how we can do a better job in helping you do a better job in serving your constituents, please let me know.