Mar 12, 2008 11:05 am US/Eastern
Citizens Bash Corzine's State Budget Plan
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) ―
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Gov. Jon S. Corzine's proposal to increase highway tolls is going nowhere, but it's also not going away.
AP
With residents outraged over skyrocketing property taxes, rising tuition and reduced help for the poor and mentally ill, Gov. Jon S. Corzine's proposed budget took it on the chin Wednesday at its first public hearing.
Corzine's $33 billion budget proposal, with its $2.7 billion in proposed spending cuts, drew poor reviews from residents and officials at the first legislative hearing on the plan, held Wednesday at Rutgers University in New Brunswick.
Even Corzine's fellow Democrats criticized the governor's cost-cutting plan, attacking the wisdom of eliminating state aid for small towns.
"I find it indefensible that towns are having their funding smashed way based on population," said Senate Budget Chairwoman Barbara Buono, D-Middlesex.
Sen. Paul Sarlo, D-Bergen, vowed to fight Corzine's proposed 10.5 percent cut in municipal aid.
"The big loser is the property taxpayer," said Sen. Paul Sarlo, D-Bergen.
Mayors argued Corzine's proposed cuts would further boost the nation's highest property taxes, which average $6,800 per New Jersey homeowner—twice the national average.
Corzine wants to eliminate state aid for towns with fewer than 5,000 residents to entice them to share services or merge.
"The idea that sharing services or consolidation is the magic bullet is misguided," said Helmetta Mayor Nancy Martin. She said her small town in central New Jersey, population 2,000, explored sharing police services with other nearby towns, only to find doing so would be more expensive.
Former Supreme Court Justice James H. Coleman Jr. also criticized the spending plan, telling senators funding to help the poor obtain legal services is falling short. He said $16.4 million is proposed for such legal aid, but said that's the same as the last four years, with other legal aid funding declining.
"It is incumbent upon the state to do everything possible to ensure that those in poverty have equal access to our system of justice," Coleman said.
Coleman said only 1 percent of tenants facing eviction get help from a lawyer, while only 5 percent facing denial of welfare benefits get legal help. Sen. Kevin O'Toole called those figures "startling."
"As a society, we can't tolerate this," said O'Toole, R-Essex.
Under Corzine's budget plan, funding for property tax rebates, municipal aid, hospitals, nursing homes and state colleges and universities would be cut. New fees would be imposed for health care for the poor and elderly. A cost-of-living increase would be denied for nonprofits that provide services to the abused and disabled.
Also, the state agriculture, commerce and personnel departments would be eliminated, with 3,000 state jobs cut through early retirement incentives and layoffs.
Corzine said the plan is needed in a state plagued by sagging revenues, mounting debt and high taxes.
"I recognize the challenge that this is for the people of the state, but I think it is necessary if we are going to break the pattern of borrowing against the future, which has gone on under Republicans and Democrats for far too long," Corzine has said.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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