Sweeney, Burzichelli, Fisher Declare Council's Ruling on Rural State Police Patrols 'A Win'

SWEENEY/BURZICHELLI/FISHER DECLARE COUNCIL'S RULING ON RURAL STATE POLICE PATROLS 'A WIN'

Third District Legislators Say Council on Local Mandates' Decision Marking Municipal Funding of Patrols an Unfunded Mandate Protects Taxpayers

(TRENTON) - Third District legislators Senate Majority Leader Stephen M. Sweeney and Assemblymen John J. Burzichelli and Douglas H. Fisher (all D-Cumberland/Gloucester/Salem) called today's ruling by the state Council on Local Mandates that language in the fiscal year 2009 state budget constitutes an unfunded mandate "a win for the wallets of rural taxpayers."

The budget language in question would have required the 89 rural municipalities that rely on State Police patrols to pay for the $12.6 million service or risk losing the patrols.  The council, in a verbal statement, ruled that "line 8 on page 158 of the Annual Appropriations Act to line 17 on page 159, inclusive, constitutes an unfunded mandate and is null and void."

Sweeney, Burzichelli and Fisher released the following statements:

Sweeney:  "Today's ruling by the Council on Local Mandates is a huge win for rural property taxpayers who were going to find their out-of-pocket expenses spike in FY 09.

"During this past year's budget negotiations, I felt strongly that the proposal to charge rural taxpayers for State Police patrols violated the pact made between New Jersey and these rural municipalities when the State Police were first established in the 1920's as a uniformed rural police force.  That's why I fought to get the proposal reduced from $20 million to $12 million.  I would have preferred it be eliminated, but was told that wasn't an option.

"Thanks to today's ruling the relationship between State Police and rural communities will remain intact, and our rural residents will not be unfairly hit with a huge property tax increase to maintain the State Police services they've come to expect.

"While our budget forecast may not be rosy, we cannot balance our State's budget on the backs of one specific segment of the population over the other."

Burzichelli:  "The benefit today's ruling brings to the 89 municipalities that would have been affected is immeasurable.

"Residents and local leaders will no longer be forced to choose between losing a vital public service and watching their local taxes skyrocket to have that service continue."

Fisher:  "The council's decision today will spare thousands of families already suffering from a global economic meltdown from having to find a way to deal with the additional financial grief this unfunded mandate would have created.

"Taxpayers and local leaders in New Jersey have enough to worry about without having to wonder if they will be able to afford to keep their families and towns safe."

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