County Tours
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County Tours
As Chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee I have been touring our state county by county. The goal of these tours is to gain information on how state funds are used throughout New Jersey. With that in mind, I have met with elected officials, educators, health care providers, labor unions, and business leaders. One of the questions I always ask is, "For every dollar of state funding you receive, how much comes back to New Jersey?"
In recent years, we have found ourselves in very difficult economic times. Each of the organizations which receive funding from our state, either by direct appropriation or through grants, has a duty to be fiscally responsible and either provide a tangible return on investment or a social benefit.
I consider these tours rewarding in more ways than one. Every tour has taught me something new about our state. Whether it is the concerns of smart growth in Salem County, the Aquaculture Center at Cumberland County College, or assistance with a Certificate of Need to perform heart surgery for Somerset Medical Center, all the tours are rewarding and educational. They also allow me to view firsthand, as Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, how state funds are used. I am pleased to say that in the tough economic climate our state has endured, state funds have been used in a wise manner, not only benefiting the organizations and entities that receive the money, but the residents in the communities who take advantage of their services.
In the future, I will continue to tour the twenty one counties making sure that all voices are heard and that state funds are spent in a fiscally responsible manner. I look forward to the new experiences New Jersey has to offer, and anticipate continued economic growth in the coming years. Going further, I will meet with organizations I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting and I will revisit others to be kept abreast of future accomplishments and concerns from all entities within our state.