budget

12TH District Legislators Senator Jennifer Beck, Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande, and Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon said today that a report by a state auditor outlining numerous failures to comply with state statutes governing the program confirm exactly what they’ve been saying for months.

CODEY STATEMENT ON REVISED REVENUE FORECAST

            TRENTON – Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) issued the following statement on the revised revenue forecasts provided by the State Treasurer and the Office of Legislative Services at today’s Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee hearing:

            “This is essentially like finding a couple benign growths on an elephant.  That’s not to say the news is not welcome, but it’s certainly not going to solve our long-term fiscal problems. 

 

 

(TRENTON) -Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Princeton) is voicing his unease to the current budget proposal eliminating the Department of Agriculture and closing state parks and is seeking the assistance of the Assembly Budget Committee in finding other reductions.

"While I completely support Governor Corzine's efforts to reduce state spending," Gusciora said in a letter to Assembly Budget Chairman Louis Greenwald, "these two cuts in particular will be penny wise but pound foolish."

WISNIEWSKI: EXPLORE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
TO KEEP PARKS OPEN
Assemblyman Says State Should Consider Asking Business Community
To Partner in Effort to Keep Parks Operational

(SAYREVILLE) - Seeking to avert the closure of nine state parks and the reduction in services at three others, Assemblyman John Wisniewski today suggested the administration seek private partners willing to assume operations at the facilities to keep them open to the public and ensure the properties do not fall into disrepair.

ROBERTS: TIE MUNICIPAL AID TO EFFICIENCY THIS YEAR, NOT NEXT
Speaker Says Municipal Performance, Not Population, Must Be Key to Deciding State Aid Levels for All Cities and Towns

(TRENTON) - Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr. (D-Camden) today called for a Fiscal Year 2009 municipal aid distribution plan that would treat all municipalities fairly and equitably through efficiency performance measures.

"High-Priced Lawyers Are NOT More Important than Farmers"

Senator Steve Oroho (R-24) once again criticized Governor Corzine for wanting to eliminate the state Department of Agriculture.

"I find it absolutely appalling that Governor Corzine would suggest cutting the Department of Agriculture, which he purports will save $500, 000, while at the same time he is spending over $9 million on politically connected lawyers and consultants, to study the toll hike scheme, " Oroho stated. "The Governor needs to get his priorities straight."

Senator Steve Oroho (R-24), a member of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee, said that Governor Corzine’s proposal to cut nearly $190 million in municipal aid from the state budget will improperly punish small towns that operate efficiently while protecting larger towns that continue to waste money.