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Oct. 16-22
Federal Funds
Each year the New York State Comptroller produces a report on the balance of payments between individual states and the federal government. The equation is simple. How much does the state send to Washington in tax dollars compared to the level of federal spending in that state?
With each report we get confirmation that New Jersey does not do well in these comparisons. In the most recent report for federal fiscal year 2021, the Garden State ranked 5th in the nation in terms of the per capita taxes paid to the federal government. That amounted to 27% above the national average. Only four other states paid more per capita.
In terms of federal expenditures in New Jersey, even in the pandemic year 2021 when federal stimulus dollars flowed freely, New Jersey ranked 35th among the states, $1,400 per capita below the national average. In the final calculation of the balance of payments (expenditures minus revenues), New Jersey came out 48th among the 50 states, an improvement of sorts from the pre-pandemic federal fiscal year 2019, when the Garden State ranked 50th.
The Pew Trust report for that same 2021 year focused on the percentage of a state’s budget that comes from federal funds. In New Jersey that number was 29%, which is lower than any of New Jersey’s neighbors with New York at 41%, Pennsylvania at 39% and Delaware at 41%. The 50-state share was 37%.
Nationally the federal share of state budgets grew during the pandemic years. Another major factor in growth of the federal share was the state’s participation in the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act.
Catastrophe Report
Aon, a global services firm involved in reinsurance, risk management and health care strategies, publishes a regular report on global catastrophes and the costs associated with them. For the third quarter of this year, Aon’s report showed multiple disaster events that drove the year-to-date losses to an estimated $295 billion with a full quarter yet to go.
Of particular interest was the losses in the United States alone from severe convective storms. Loss estimated topped $50 billion for the first time. Severe convective storms are more colloquially known as thunderstorms. The report states that the U.S. experienced four individual billion-dollar insured loss events with expectations of continued losses driving that number up.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, severe convective storms range from drenching thunderstorms with lightning to hail storms to tornados. Aon notes, “Severe Convective Storms caused approximately 70% of global insured losses in 2023, compared to an average of 34%.”
If there was good news in the Aon report it was that hurricane losses in the U.S. were lower than average in the third quarter. Two notable tropical storms, Hillary and Idalia, did cause significant damage.
Aon’s research suggests that severe convective storms are becoming “increasingly costly to insurers, communities and governments.”
The Insurance Journal reports that by the end of September, the year 2023 saw 47 individual billion-dollar disasters.
Cancer Rate
An estimated 38% of adults will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes, according to the National Cancer Institute. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data says that cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S., exceeded only by heart disease. One in every four deaths in the U.S. is due to cancer.
2020 data, the most recent available in comprehensive form, puts New Jersey 6th among the 50 states in terms of new instances of cancer per 100,000 of the population. That places the state 9% above the national average. Kentucky is the state with the highest cancer rates and Arizona has the lowest. To compare, Arizona’s 2020 rate of new incidents of cancer per 100,000 was 359, New Jersey’s was 484 and Kentucky’s 505. That puts New Jersey at 35% higher than the lower cancer rate in Arizona.
The good news is that the death rate due to cancer in New Jersey is 8% lower than the national average. Part of this may be due to the types of cancer in the state profile with New Jersey the 14th lowest in the nation in lung and bronchus cancers but third highest and second highest in terms of breast and prostate cancers. Both breast and prostate cancers have overall higher relative survival rates.
Happenings
North Wildwood Mayor Patrick Rosenello and the state Department of Environmental Protection have different views on offseason beach work in the city.
Avalon demolished its old school and library building on 26th Street with plans to use the lot for a parking lot.
Middle Township is introducing an expanded memorial dedication program with a range of options for families who wish to remember a loved one.
Cape May County has joined in litigation that challenges the federal government’s final decision on construction of wind farms off the coast.
Cape May has joined with other municipalities that have raised beach tag prices for 2024. Rising costs for staffing and general maintenance of the beaches is cited as the reasons.
North Wildwood City Council authorized expenditures for making beach repairs following damage caused by recent storms.
Cape May has set Nov. 2 for a town-hall-style council meeting in response to frequent requests from residents.
Stone Harbor brought on a special counsel to defend the borough in potential zoning litigation cases.
Cape May authorized $2 million in bond funds to continue the planning and design of a new water desalination plant. The amount of city funds used will be reduced if efforts at grant funding are successful.
Ørsted has placed $100 million in escrow with a pledge to have the Ocean Wind I farm operational by the end of 2025.
Former Middle Township Police Chief Christopher Leusner has no opposition on the ballot as he seeks a seat on the Township Committee. He recently spoke of challenges he sees facing the township.
Visitors to the Wildwood beaches in April and October might see three-wheeled buggies with colorful kites running up and down the sand.
Middle Township is introducing new business registration rules in order to comply with state statutes on business and rental unit insurance coverage.
Steger Field at Lower Cape May Regional High School was turned into a “field of faith” Thursday, Oct. 12, when the Fellowship of Christian Athletes held its third annual Fields of Faith event.
A Superior Court judge denied a motion to toss an indictment for official misconduct brought against a detective sergeant in the county prosecutor’s office.
Local girl, Madie Gibson, grew up in a soccer family and is now in Ireland playing for the Athlone Town AFC team in the Women’s Premier Division of the League of Ireland.
Spout Off of the Week
Cape May Beach – Many thanks to the Lower Township Public Works crew for cutting back the overhanging branches from the lot next door to my house on Hollywood Rd. The branches were creating a hazard for drivers. Not only did the crew correct the dangerous condition, they called for a water truck to wash off the muddy residue. Thanks to Scott and his crew. Another fine job by Public Works!
Read more spouts at spoutoff.capemaycountyherald.com.
