TRENTON – Gov. Chris Christie warned mayors to be prepared for cuts in state aid to municipalities.
The governor spoke to mayors at the annual state League of Municipalities Mayor’s Legislative Day Feb. 24. He said the public was prepared to hear that tough choices had to be made.
Christie said current levels of state aid to municipalities could not be continued because the state does not have the money. He did not give a figure of how much state aid would be cut.
That information is expected in Christie’s March 16 budget address.
Christie told mayors raises were being to municipal employee that towns could not afford. He said citizens have had enough of tax increases.
The governor compared the state’s financial situation to the final scene in the movie “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” where Robert Redford have the choice of being captured by posse or jumping off a cliff. Christie said he believed the state would jump off the cliff but have a safe landing.
He told mayors the state would help municipalities by working with legislators on issues such as binding arbitration and the Council on Affordable Housing. Christie said the state has arrived at its day of reckoning.
Lower Township receives an average of $2 million per year in state aid, according to Township Manager Kathy McPherson. The loss of an appreciable amount of state aid would cause the township to raise taxes or cut spending, she said.
The township was already looking at a tax increase without losing state aid, said McPherson.
Cape May Point Mayor Carl Schupp told the Herald there was no question the state was in trouble.
“I’m really pleased our new governor it taking it extremely seriously and the actions he has taken are tough but are absolutely vital and necessary,” he said.
Schupp said mayors were pleased that representatives from the state senate and assembly, whether a Democrat or Republican, said they would be working together tackle the state’s financial problems.
“There was no bickering back and forth or throwing jabs at each other,” said Schupp.
He said he was hopeful the legislature would cooperate with Christie and the state will make some real progress.
While state aid cuts may be difficult for many municipalities, Schupp said Cape May Point received very little state aid. He said the borough received less than $10,000 annually from the state.
Schupp questioned why counties would not also face state aid cuts.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
