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MUNICIPAL LEADERS QUESTION STATE BUDGET CUTS
Mayors and other officials, representing 250 municipalities with populations over 10,000, met in Trenton today to hear from, and question, Governor Corzine on his proposed $190 million cuts in local property tax relief funding. Governor Corzine again explained the State’s problems in balancing its budget and acknowledged the work that Mayors and local governing bodies have already done and continue to do to cut local spending. He did, however, question the assumption that the cuts, themselves, will impose problems on property taxpayers in many municipalities. He pledged to work with the many Mayors who brought up State policies separate from property tax relief funding, but directly bearing on local budgets. These included binding arbitration of public safety contracts, Pineland development restrictions, Highlands development restrictions, tax exempt properties and, most especially, the Court-ordered affordable housing mandates proposed by the State’s Council On Affordable Housing. League President, Mayor Robert Bowser of East Orange, who presided at the meeting, stressed that the League of Municipalities’ primary interest in the State’s budget, and in all other State policy debates remains property tax relief and property tax reform. His comments were echoed by Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer, Ridgefield Park Mayor George Fosdick and others. New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Joe Doria, who was also on hand to answer questions, repeated his commitment to work with the League on helping municipalities cope with the unprecedented funding cuts. Mayor Bowser thanked both the Governor and Commissioner Doria for their commitments to work with the League, noting, “If you don’t have a seat at the table, you’re probably on the menu.” Access the briefing packet at http://www.njslom.org/2009-budget-main.html. Please pay special attention to the “Next Steps” page. |
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