STATE POLICE FEES OPPOSED BY CDC AND PARTICIPATING TOWNS
CDC Board Resolution Opposing State Police Fees
JOIN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE PROPOSED FEES FOR STATE POLICE SERVICES |
|||||||||||
|
ATTENTION TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH RESIDENTS!!! Governor Corzine’s proposal to charge rural communities for NJ State Police coverage could cause a big increase in Deerfield Township property taxes in 2009 and future years! Let the Governor and legislators know of your strong opposition to this proposal as soon as possible. Mailing addresses, e-mail addresses and telephone numbers are below for those you should contact. If enough taxpayers contact their legislators and Governor expressing their strong opposition, we have a chance to make a difference and stop these local property tax increases from occurring in 2009! The Township Committee / Borough Council can not do this alone We need your support! SAMPLE LETTERS TO THE GOVERNOR & STATE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS OPPOSING STATE POLICE FEES FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES are available below or at one of the local Municipal Buildings Note: You may copy and paste the text below into your letter or email. Please send your emails and letters to the others on the list found below as well. Governor Jon Corzine PO Box 001 Trenton, NJ 08625 Dear Governor Corzine: I am writing to you to express my strong opposition to the State’s plans to charge rural communities for State Police coverage. These proposals completely contradict the State’s position to reduce property taxes. This proposal will cause a large increase my municipal property taxes now and in future years. A State budget reduction is not property tax relief when the very appropriations that are cut are those intended to offset property taxes. If the State financial experts cannot reduce the 30 billion dollar budget by twelve million dollars, then officials should consider increasing surcharges on tickets issued by the State Police. This will raise new revenue to support State Police service in lieu of the Governor’s plan to require rural municipalities to increase local property taxes to pay for this service. The State Police issue needs to be resolved through cutting State expenditures or increasing surcharges on fines instead of relying on regressive property taxes that impact those taxpayers that can least afford it! Respectfully yours,
Senator Steve Sweeney and Assemblymen John Burzichelli and Douglas Fisher NJ Third District Legislative Office Kingsway Commons, Suite 400 935 Kings Highway Thorofare, NJ 08086
Dear Senator Steve Sweeney Assemblyman John Burzichelli Assemblyman Douglas Fisher I am writing to you to express my strong opposition to the State’s plans to charge rural communities for State Police coverage. These proposals completely contradict the State’s position to reduce property taxes. This proposal will cause a large increase in my municipal property taxes. A State budget reduction is not property tax relief when the very appropriations that are cut are those intended to offset property taxes. If the State financial experts cannot reduce the 30 billion dollar budget by twelve million dollars, then officials should consider increasing surcharges on tickets issued by the State Police. This will raise new revenue to support State Police service in lieu of the Governor’s plan to require rural municipalities to increase local property taxes to pay for this service. The State Police issue needs to be resolved through cutting State expenditures or increasing surcharges on fines instead of relying on regressive property taxes that impact those taxpayers that can least afford it! Respectfully yours,
|
|||||||||||
THE CUMBERLAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION - #2008 - 05
A RESOLUTION STRONGLY OPPOSING FEES
ON RURAL MUNICIPALITIES FOR STATE POLICE SERVICE
AND ENDORSING PROPOSED BILLS S-1976/A-2982 THAT WOULD INCREASE MOTOR VEHICLE VIOLATIONS SURCHARGES TO RAISE FUNDS
TO HELP PAY FOR LOCAL POLICE SERVICES
WHEREAS, Governor Corzine’s Fiscal Year 2009 budget reduced State Police funding for municipalities, and
WHEREAS, the State Budget mandates collecting fees from rural municipalities who rely on the State Police for police services, and
WHEREAS, we believe these fees represent an unconstitutional “unfunded local mandate” and will force an increase in local property taxes, and
WHEREAS, State Police service for rural communities is a service that we believe is required to be provided by and paid for by the State based on the Act of the Legislature that created the State Police nearly 100 years ago for that specific purpose and which has been the established precedent throughout all these years, and
WHEREAS, the Mayors, governing body members and other elected and appointed officials in Cumberland County, including the Board of Directors of Cumberland Development Corporation (CDC), remain strongly opposed to the State charging any amount to the municipalities for rural State Police coverage since that was the purpose and function of State Police from its creation by the Legislature and remains so today, and
WHEREAS, many Mayors and other elected and appointed municipal officials, including representatives of Cumberland Development Corporation, have served on a Special Executive Committee of the NJ State League of Municipalities and have met with the Attorney General, State Police, State Treasury officials and representatives of the Governor’s office, expressing our opposition to these fees and offering an alternative to charging fees to rural municipalities and raising property taxes, and
WHEREAS, the proposed Bills S-1976 and A-2982 support the alternative suggested by the Special Executive Committee of the State League of Municipalities by authorizing a $40 surcharge to be added to all motor vehicle violations and directs that one-half of the amount collected be deposited in the “Rural Police Services Property Tax Relief Patrol Services Fund”, and
WHEREAS, the proposed Bill directs that the moneys in this fund, and any interest that might be earned, are to be used exclusively for the purpose of offsetting the State’s costs for providing State Police patrol services in the State’s smaller and more rural communities, and
WHEREAS, charging those who violate State laws, would provide funds in lieu of relying solely on New Jersey property taxpayers, is a sensible solution to address the problem, and
WHEREAS, Senate Bill No. 1976, sponsored by Senator Van Drew, and Assembly companion, A-2982 (Assemblyman Milam) would impose such a $40 surcharge on all motor vehicle violations for such purposes, and
WHEREAS, S-1976/A-2982 establishes two funds into which revenues from the surcharge will be divided equally between the “Rural Police Services Property Tax Relief Patrol Services Fund” and the “Police Services Property Tax Relief Fund”
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors of the Cumberland Development Corporation remains strongly opposed to charging rural municipalities any amount for State Police services.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors of Cumberland Development Corporation does hereby endorse the sensible solution and appropriate surcharge rates as proposed in S-1976/A-2982 and supports the adoption thereof and urges the District Three Legislators, other Legislators throughout New Jersey, Governor Corzine, Cumberland County Board of Freeholders, the Governing Bodies of the rural Townships in Cumberland County and other elected officials and the public to support adoption of this legislation and to oppose imposition on any fees for State police coverage on the municipalities and the property tax payers.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be sent to the Governor, Senators Van Drew and Sweeney, Assemblymen Milam, Albano, Fisher and Burzichelli, other members of the State Legislature, Cumberland County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Mayors and Clerks of the rural Municipalities in Cumberland County and the New Jersey League of Municipalities.
Adopted at a meeting of the Cumberland Development Board of Directors held on July 28, 2008.
_____________________________________
Elmer Bowman, Chairman of the Board
_____________________________________
Anthony Stanzione, Executive Director