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March 25, 2015
Trenton, NJ
Glassboro Mayor Presents Local Concerns to Assembly Budget Committee
Earlier today at Rowan College, Glassboro Mayor and League
of Municipalities Executive Board Members Leo McCabe appeared before
the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee to discuss Governor
Christie’s proposed State Budget. His remarks focused on the
Transportation Trust Fund, the Pension and Benefit Commission’s Roadmap
to Resolution and the status of municipal property tax relief funding.
Speaking on behalf of all New Jersey Mayors, concerning transportation infrastructure funding, Mayor McCabe noted:
The State Department of Transportation (DOT) reports
that New Jersey's municipalities are responsible for 64% (28,539
center line road miles) of our roads. County governments are
responsible for another 22% (6,649 center line road miles).
Together, local governments are responsible for 39% of our
bridges. Local roadways and bridges carry about 55% of all
traffic. …
We thank Senate President Sweeney and Speaker Prieto for
their commitment to doubling Local Aid. … We ask this Committee to
address the need for investments this year. And, with local budgets due
for adoption on April 24, we ask that you do so as soon as possible.
On the Pension and Benefit Study Commission “Roadmap to
Resolution” recommendation to divert local health benefit savings to
address State pension funding shortfalls, Mayor McCabe stated, “It is
frustrating to see a State Commission suggest that the local property
taxpayer be asked to absorb a State liability and that projected
municipal ‘savings’ be applied to reduce a state obligation.”
On general property tax relief funding, Mayor McCabe said,
“Municipalities lost $331 million in combined Energy Tax and
Consolidated Municipal Property Tax Relief Aid (CMPTRA) funding in
Fiscal Years 2009, 2010, and 2011. In each succeeding year, ‘level’
funding has been held at that lower level. …We urge you, again, to
acknowledge that the time has come to begin to restore to local budgets
the millions in property tax relief that continue to be annually
diverted to meet State needs.”
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For further information contact: William G. Dressel, Jr., Executive Director at 609-695-3481, extension 122.
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