VanDrew Updates Chamber on Gas Tax

SEA ISLE CITY – Say “gas tax” and most Cape May County drivers’ blood pressure increases. Talk about hiking that gas tax, and there seems an almost universal shout of “No!” Who wants to pay more at the pump? The answer: few, if any.
Cape May County Chamber of Commerce met Jan. 15 at the Lobster Loft here and heard Sen. Jeff VanDrew (D-1st) talk about that sore subject, among other topics of interest to the business community.
It is ironic that this city’s taxpayers’ association recently appeared before Cape May County freeholders asking the board to raise taxes to replace Ocean Drive’s dilapidated bridges. The group noted the need for new, better bridges, and acknowledged the hefty price tag. They advocated the county tax be raised, with most of the tax being borne by the island communities, which would benefit most from the new bridges. The board took no immediate action on the request.
At the south end of this city, Townsend’s Inlet Bridge closed Jan. 15 until mid-April for more repairs. That closure limits access to the island either by Sea Isle City Boulevard, currently under construction to raise the road about 4.5 feet, or OceanDrive over Corson’s Inlet Bridge.
County Engineer Dale Foster cited to freeholders the Jan. 14 front-page story in the Herald in which he addressed the Coalition of Civic Associations regarding the state of the county’s 28 bridges. A point he stressed to the board, the reason he said the county was “in trouble” was because key sources of revenue to continue repair of those bridges and roads, the state’s Transportation Trust Fund runs out of money June 30. The Federal Highway Trust Fund obligation ends in May. “There is no funding source after June 30 for roads and bridges,” Foster told the board.
Regardless, Foster said the state Department of Transportation continues to accept grant applications for county aid for roads. “I don’t know where they will get the money July 1,” Foster told the board. He noted the county received $1.65 million for roads this year from that county aid program.
“We still have another couple of years with the Local Bridge Future Needs, at least $1 million a year, but it’s all funded through the Transportation Trust Fund,” Foster said.
This returns the subject of the gas tax hike back to the county chamber address by Van Drew.
“Speaking for myself, I am not voting for the gas tax,” said Van Drew, noting he was opposed to an increase a year ago and so stated. “I think it will go through,” he added.
He told the chamber someone asked his opinion whether the gas tax hike would pass. “There are enough Democrats and Republicans that will support it as well,” said Van Drew.
Regardless, VanDrew remains “open-minded to try to do everything I can to help. Try to figure another way out.”
The present tax, at 14.5 cents per gallon, is the nation’s second lowest after Alaska.
Couple that with the “very unusual move” made by Gov. Chris Christie, said Van Drew, of bringing back Jamie Fox as state transportation commissioner Sept. 22, 2014. He had served under the McGreevy Administration.
VanDrew said Fox is “a strong advocate of the gas tax.”
Further, noted the senator, construction costs for roads and bridges in the Garden State are very high. One reason cited by VanDrew was environmental, since the Department of Transportation must pay “huge amounts” to satisfy Department of Environmental Protection regulations.
The result seems to indicate a gas tax hike in not that far “down the road.”
What the state lacks in gas tax, it makes up in tolls. According to VanDrew, “We have some of the highest tolls, property taxes, income taxes, sales tax, and some of the highest fees every time you turn around.”
VanDrew remained mindful, too, of the fragile balance between the gas tax and Cape May County’s overall economy. More money in the wallet, because of a lower per-gallon cost for gas, translates into more to spend in restaurants and local establishments.
He pointed to those, perhaps in the construction industry, who must travel from the county elsewhere for work. An additional 10 cents increase in the price of gasoline would have an impact, he said.
VanDrew also noted the “little things” that add up and cost businesses more. He cited his own dental practice, which is about 1,400 square feet. He said a fire inspector came and told him he needed two new fire extinguishers. That necessitated buying two new extinguishers, paying someone to put them up, paying for the inspection and then the reinspection. “All those little things add up and make it more difficult (for small business) when the economy is not good,” said the senator.
More over Regulation
Also speaking to the chamber was Assemblyman Robert Andrzejczak (D-1st).
He opposes A857 which increases minimum wage for tipped workers. “We are trying to bring business into New Jersey, to start businesses in South Jersey. This is something that is bad for business,” Andrzejczak said.
Similarly, he is “not happy with” is paid sick leave for hourly workers. “If they call in sick, and didn’t put in the hours, it doesn’t make sense they should get paid,” he continued. He believes insurance ought to cover those workers, not their employer. “The burden should not be on the employer,” he said.
Andrzejczak, who chairs the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, who has visited oyster farms in the Delaware Bay in Middle Township, noted the “bayshores are prime territory for harvesting oysters and clams.” He said there are quite a few bills” dealing with aquaculture and agriculture, and pointed to state regulations of those farms, over which 11 separate state entities have jurisdiction.
“It’s hard to get everyone on the same page,” the assemblyman said.
Downsizing is the key, “rather than jumping through11 hoops, to two, three or four at the most.”
“It would make it a lot earlier for business owners to become prosperous. We hope to get it done this year,” he said.
VanDrew also cited overregulation as stifling progress in aquaculture in New Jersey.
Acknowledging aquaculture’s “huge potential for us,” VanDrew pointed to Virginia and other states getting involved in aquaculture.
“They have grown 30-fold in what they’ve done (in the same time). The DEP has eight or more departments regulating them. You cannot get a lucid, clear direction,” VanDrew said.
“If you got together today (to begin an aquaculture venture), if you got a few bucks, and wanted to do something, this is the perfect environment we are surrounded by water. It’s really, really tough, not to raise the money or to learn the science, but to navigate the bureaucracy. That’s a problem, it’s unbelievably difficult,” said VanDrew.