We in Egg Harbor City, Atlantic County understand the situation the State of New Jersey is in and what the Governor is facing. What we don't understand is how the cuts in the CMPTRA were calculated and why the smaller municipalities need to take the brunt of the burden! Last year the legislature met to discuss ways to correct the fiscal financial problems facing NJ. One of the proposals was for municipalities to share services and/or merge. We in EHC have welcomed the shared services idea and actually are sharing services now with neighboring municipalites. Additionally, we are looking to expand the programs. It was said that the municipalities actively working to share services will not be affected with a loss of state aid. The result is that we were hit with a 49% reduction in the CMPTRA! It is disappointing to me that the Governor has taken this path that will not fix the State's overall problem AND cause smaller municipalites like ours to suffer. Like many of my fellow Mayors have said here... this proposal needs to be reconsidered and a more responsible solution to the State of NJ's financial woes must be found. It does not seem to me that throwing mud against the wall and seeing what sticks is the best way. Joseph A. Kuehner Jr.
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