PRESENTATION BY WILLIAM G. DRESSEL
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
NEW JERSEY STATE LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES
BEFORE THE LOCAL UNIT ALIGNMENT, REORGANIZATION AND
CONSOLIDATION COMMISSION (LUARCC)
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
9:30 A.M.
THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2008
HONORED MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION:
I AM BILL DRESSEL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NEW JERSEY STATE LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES.
AS YOU KNOW, THE LEAGUE REPRESENTS THE MAYORS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM ALL 566 MUNICIPALITIES IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY:
IN RESPONSE TO YOUR INVITATION, THE LEAGUE WISHES TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS:
FOR MANY YEARS THE LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES HAS BEEN IN THE FOREFRONT OF EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE INTERLOCAL COOPERATION IN THE PROVISION OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES. FOR EXAMPLE, IN 1982 THE LEAGUE COSPONSORED WITH THE EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENT CENTER-SOUTH AND THE NEW JERSEY SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION A PUBLICATION ENTITLED THE “ART OF THE POSSIBLE” PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR MUNICIPAL AND SCHOOL GOVERNMENTS TO COOPERATE IN THE PROVISION OF SIMILAR SERVICES. DO NOT BE MISLED BY THOSE WHO WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE LEAGUE IS A CHAMPION OF INEFFICIENCY AND DUPLICATION OF EFFORT.
OVERALL, THE LEAGUE DOES NOT OPPOSE THE CONSOLIDATION OF MUNICIPALITIES OR MUNICIPAL SERVICES, SO LONG AS SEVERAL HIGHLY VALUED GENERALLY ACCEPTED PRINCIPALS ARE FULLY RESPECTED. THE PRINCIPLES ON WHICH WE JUDGE THE PROCESS ARE THESE:
- ONLY THE AFFECTED MAY CHOOSE: THOSE AFFECTED BY ANY JOINT VENTURE MUST BE ABLE TO DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES THAT THE CHOICE IS WHAT THEY WANT. THIS MAY OCCUR THROUGH THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, AS IS THE CHARACTER OF THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT. OR IN THE ALTERNATE, THIS MAY ALSO OCCUR THROUGH A REFERENDUM PROCESS IN WHICH THE QUESTION IS POSED DIRECTLY TO THE GOVERNED, AS IS THE CHARACTER OF OUR DEMOCRATIC FORM OF GOVERNMENT. HOWEVER, ONLY THOSE AFFECTED BY THE ISSUE MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE SELECTION OF THE CHOICE. THOSE IN ANOTHER JURISDICTION MAY NOT CHOOSE AN OUTCOME TO BE EXPERIENCED BY OTHERS.
RECENT AND PAST SUGGESTIONS THAT THERE BE PENALTIES FOR NOT CONSOLIDATING ARE ANTI-DEMOCRATIC AND ELITIST. IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY WE MUST BELIEVE IN THE ABILITY OF EDUCATED PEOPLE TO CHOOSE WHAT IS IN THEIR BEST INTEREST. TRENTON CANNOT BE THE ENTITY THAT FORCES SELF-DETERMINING ADULTS TO LIVE IN COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY HAVE NOT CHOSEN TO LIVE.
- ACCURATE AND TRUSTWORTHY INFORMATION: THE CHOICES PLACED BEFORE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS OR THE VOTERS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY SUFFICIENT ACCURATE AND TRUSTWORTHY INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROBABLE CONSEQUENCES OF THE OUTCOME THAT THE PARTIES MAKING THE CHOICE FEEL THEY HAVE SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO JUDGE THE BEST OUTCOME FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE.
- OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS: A TRULY INDEPENDENT AGENCY SHOULD BE CHARGED WITH CONDUCTING THE STUDY SO THAT THE ELECTORS MAY FREELY AND CONFIDENTLY TRUST THE INFORMATION. THEY SHOULD HAVE THE LEAST LIKELIHOOD OF ASSUMING THAT THE INFORMATION HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO HAVE RESULTS THAT FURTHER AGENDAS OF SPECIAL INTERESTS OR OTHERS NOT PURSUING THE COMMON GOOD OF THE AFFECTED PARTIES. THIS ANALYSIS SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT:
- THERE ARE COST DRIVERS CAUSING THE LOCAL PROPERTY TAX TO RISE INEXORABLY OVER THE PAST FOUR DECADES,
- “ECONOMIES OF SCALE” ARE PART OF AN ANALYSIS THAT HAS ON ITS FLIP SIDE “DISECONOMIES OF SCALE,”
- MANY EFFICIENCIES ARE INHERENT IN SMALLER GOVERNMENTS,
- CONSCIENTIOUS LOCAL OFFICIALS, WHO ALWAYS SEE THEIR ROLE AS A TRUE FIDUCIARY OF THE PUBLIC’S MONEY AND TRUST, NEED SUPPORT FROM TRENTON IN THEIR QUEST TO DO RIGHT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES,
- THE CITIZENRY DEMANDS A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT BASED ON REAL CUSTOMER SERVICE STANDARDS,
- THERE ARE INTANGIBLE, QUALITATIVE FACTORS THAT AFFECT A CITIZENRY’S SATISFACTION WITH THEIR GOVERNMENT THAT CANNOT BE EASILY CONVERTED TO FINANCIAL STATISTICS, AND
- IT SHOULD INCLUDE HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN EVEN MORE EFFICIENT WAYS THAN THEY PRESENTLY DO SO.
IN CONCLUSION, THE LEAGUE WISHES TO OFFER ITS ASSISTANCE IN ANY WAY THAT THE COMMISSION DEEMS NECESSARY, AS THE COMMISSION WORKS TO ACCOMPLISH ITS MISSION |
