By Tom Hester Sr.
NewJerseyNewsRoom.com
April 14, 2010

The state Community Affairs commissioner and the Democratic chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee Wednesday debated the worthiness of Gov. Chris Chirstie's proposal to place a 2.5 percent spending cap on the budgets of cities, towns, counties, and school districts.

In an appearance before the committee in Trenton to review the Department of Community Affairs' proposed 2010-11 budget, Commissioner Lori Grifa described the proposal as "at the heart of the governor's plan'' to attempt to get a grip on local government spending and high property taxes.

The proposal stems, in part, from a 2.5 percent spending cap Massachusetts placed on local government.

"We believe the proposition can work in New Jersey just as it's done in Massachusetts, which went from having the third highest property tax burden in 1977 to 33rd highest in 2005 after voters approved the measure in 1980,'' Grifa said.
Assemblyman Louis Greenwald (D-Camden), the committee chairman, argued the cap initially worked in Massachusetts because the state government provided increased state aid. As part of his proposed $28.3 billion 2010-11 budget Christie wants to cut aid to local government by $445 million.

Greenwald said he supports the cap proposal and would like to see a lower one but he added that the state needs to provide aid to local government if it is going to succeed. "If we are going to go down that road, that needs to be a factor,'' he said.

Assembly Budget Chairman Lou Greenwald (D-Camden) released the following statement Wednesday after the Assembly Budget Committee heard testimony on Gov. Chris Christie’s budget plan from the state Department of Community Affairs:

"The administration seems very unfamiliar with the experience of Massachusetts and its 2.5 percent cap on property taxes. That should be a great worry to all New Jerseyans.

"I personally am very interested in a cap on property taxes, but we also must fully understand what we're doing.

"We need to understand that Massachusetts increased state aid with its cap, while Gov. Christie is proposing a drastic cut.

"We need to understand that the cap in Massachusetts has helped lead to a growing disparity between wealthy and poor communities.

"Most of all, we need to work in a bipartisan fashion to solve these problems, even when the questions are tough."

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For Immediate Release
Contact: Assemblyman Greenwald, (856) 435-1247

The NJ State Office of Emergency Management has re-opened the door for our county to be included in the Presidential Declaration for FEMA aid for flooding resulting from the rains storms of March 12-14th. Sam Spino, Camden County Emergency Management Coordinator, is coordinating the appeal.

Residents, municipalities and non-profits only have a short window to make a claim – deadline is Monday, April 19 at noon -- so residents, municipalities and non-profits need to get back to us as soon as possible.

Types of claims:

Public Assistance (PA) claims, aimed at county and municipal governments and private non-profits, should include dollar damage assessment and location of the claim.

Individual Assistance (IA) is for residents. Homeowners should include, name, address and a contact number. If the county gets enough of these, we can request an assessment team from the state to come down and assist individual home owners with flood damage claims.

IA is based upon population, not dollar amounts.

Residents are urged to call their local municipalities and report damage caused by flooding. They can also call Camden County’s Department of Emergency Management at 856-783-4808 ext 5408. The deadline for filing this appeal is Monday, April 19, at noon.

NJ 101.5
By Kevin McArdle

The Democratic chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee feels Governor Chris Christie's budget proposal is not the responsible plan the Governor claims it is. Assemblyman Lou Greenwald is also not sold on the concept that the proposed Fiscal Year 2011 does anything to address the state's structural deficit.

Greenwald says, "Our new Governor promised to cut New Jersey's income taxes across the board for all taxpayers. He promised property tax cuts. He said eliminating property tax rebates would be 'a declaration of war on the middle class' and promised to fully restore them. But - unfortunately - as we start our committee hearings on Gov. Christie's first budget plan, we all know those promises were quickly tossed to the wayside. What we have in front of us is a tax-laden budget plan that targets the middle-class, senior citizens and the poor."

The Governor is defending his budget plan. He says, "These politicians who just keep promising you the sun, the moon and the stars, they're the ones who put the state in the bankrupt position we're in now.......I did not put us in this position. I inherited this position and I don't have the money to spend." He's also quick to point out that his budget proposal does not include tax increases and he's telling lawmakers to remember that, "Mark my words; if you send a tax increase to my desk I will veto it."

Notes Christie Plan Means $1,630 Gain for the Wealthy as Seniors Lose $1,725

(TRENTON) – Assembly Budget Chairman Lou Greenwald (D-Camden) released the following statement on Monday as the Assembly Budget Committee heard testimony on Gov. Chris Christie’s budget plan for the state Department of Health and Senior Services:

“Gov. Christie’s cuts to senior citizens cast serious doubts about his idea of shared sacrifice.

“A person earning $500,000 will save $1,630 under the expired income tax surcharge.

“Meanwhile, under the Christie budget plan, many senior citizens would lose $1,295 in property tax relief this year while paying an additional $430 in prescription drug fees.

“So under Christie’s plan, someone making $500,000 per year gains $1,630 while many senior citizens making less than $30,000 per year lose $1,725.

“That’s not shared sacrifice under just about anyone’s measure.

“New Jersey’s prescription drug programs for senior citizens are not a luxury. We’re talking about poor and middle-class senior citizens who need medication to preserve their quality of life.

“Under Gov. Christie’s plan to tax the elderly with higher fees, we’ll see senior citizens rationing drugs, getting sicker and ending up in emergency rooms and nursing homes for expensive treatment that will cost taxpayers even more.

“Our senior citizens and taxpayers deserve better.