Despite the petition that we sent to each State Senator and Assembly member demanding that the fat be cut from the budget before making cuts to our municipalities, hospitals and special needs programs, Governor Corzine‘s proposed budget was approved with only minor changes. The Democrats say they are paying down the States debt, the Republicans opinion is that we are starting on a slippery slope downward.
However, we have difficulty understanding how this budget could possibly address the State’s debt problem when nearly $3.9 billion for school construction and additional funding for the transportation trust fund needed to repair the deplorable condition of our State‘s roads & bridges was not included. This appears to be a shell game that will cost New Jersey Taxpayers once again. Already there is talk that New Jersey will need to BORROW the $3.9 billion needed for the school construction projects.
This begs the questions: WHERE ARE ALL OF OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES? ARE THEY SHOWING UP FOR WORK? How is it that the Governor and Legislature can arbitrarily determine that municipalities having a population under 10,000 must pay more money than municipalities with more people. Even more disturbing is when the Department of Community Affairs Commissioner was asked how they came to the figures, he did not know. Is it just our way of thinking or is there a constitutional issue here? If we are correct, why aren‘t these smaller communities banning together to file a class action lawsuit against the state? Newark or Camden should not receive more money per person than any other municipalities in the State simply because they have more residents. In fact, these cities probably waste more money in one day than was cut from each of the Township’s budget by the state.
What makes matters even worse, this so-called new municipal aid formula will put a dent in our farmland preservation program. Small rural communities must now consider allowing increased development of homes in order to make up for the lack of municipal aid received from the State in order to benefit from having a higher population. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT POINT THAT CANNOT BE MISSED – WE ARE BEING PUNISHED FOR DOING EXACTLY WHAT THE STATE SAID WE SHOULD BE DOING – PRESERVING LAND, HAVING FARMS, STOPPING DEVELOPMENT, FOLLOWING SMART GROWTH PRINCIPLES. BUT UNDER THIS LATEST BUDGET IT BEGS THE QUESTION – WHY? WHY SHOULD WE DO THESE THINGS WHEN IN FACT WE ARE PUNISHED FOR IT? IT SIMPLY IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE.
In our opinion, little has been done to cut the fat in Trenton, other than having certain legislators try to outlaw trans fat in potato chips. In fact it appears that our so-called “Representatives“ in Trenton have forgotten why they are there – to SERVE the citizens of this state – and not vice versa. The State of New Jersey is not up for sale - rather it has been sold! FOLKS - WE NEED TO CLEAN HOUSE IN TRENTON! WE NEED TO ELECT TRUE PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS OUR MONEY THAT THEY ARE SPENDING AND ELECT A GOVERNOR WHO CAN TAKE CHARGE AND CAN LEAD HIS TEAM, NOT BUY THE TEAM! We urge everyone to register to vote!
Unless drastic steps are taken to control state government spending, all New Jersey taxpayers will work to support State Government. For those of you who may not agree with the sentiment set forth herein, we assembled a timeline of articles that you need to read. It is very apparent that the current Administration’s goal is to lead us down the wrong path. What makes matters worse is their solution - pay more taxes. In the very near future, the State will pass an increased gasoline tax, another Small Business tax, Increase tolls on our roads and more. When our elected officials where confronted by the Union Representatives, they folded like a cheap suit! We need our State Government back to represent us - the NJ Taxpayer. It’s time for the change!