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July 7, 2016
Trenton, NJ

League Statement on TTF Work order

The Hon. Joseph Tempesta, Mayor of West Caldwell and President of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities (NJSLOM), offered the following comment today following the release by the Department of Transportation of projects that are subject to a work stoppage because the Transportation Trust Fund has not been reauthorized.

“As of midnight Friday, local governments may be forced to shut down critical transportation infrastructure projects. The impact on local economies, jobs and public safety demand immediate attention.

We are optimistic, however, that a resolution will be arrived at soon, as the key leaders agree on a number of elements of a legislative compromise, including the need to increase local aid. We anticipate that these leaders will act soon to establish a stable and dedicated funding source for the TTF, while restoring the local aid portions so to assure property tax relief.”

County and municipal roads and bridges carry over 55% of the State’s overall traffic and depend on $190.0 million each year in Local Aid Allocations from the TTF to repair, replace, and rehabilitate functionally obsolete and structurally deficient bridges, and to pave, resurface, and construct local roads and highways.

As county and municipal governments continue to struggle with delivering essential services in a cost effective manner, a declining ratable base, and unfunded State and federal mandates, failure to reauthorize the TTF and restore Local Aid allocations will force local property taxpayers to inequitably bear the burden of an expense that is not entirely a local one.

Contact: Michael Cerra, Assistant Executive Director at 609-695-3481, ext. 120 or by email