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The Officers and Directors of the New
Jersey Conference of Mayors wish to thank all the
Mayors who participated in our Year End 2006
Annual Mayors Survey. 156 Mayors completed
the survey making this the largest number of
respondents since the annual survey was initiated over
a decade ago. Valuable information is gleaned from
these reports informing us of items of importance
among our membership. It helps us determine the
course of action the conference should follow; the
type of programs the membership desires, and ways and
means that will help us be of greater assistance to
New Jersey’s
Mayors. The title of the recent survey was, Mayors
and the Economy… Local Responsibility with Statewide
Impact.
In response to question #1, Do you
believe the current legislative committees working on
Property Tax Reform measures will create meaningful
tax reform for the residents of your Community?
30% of the Mayors answered in the affirmative; 70%
answered in the negative. Let us hope those who voted
“yes” will be proven right. Tax reform is long
overdue.
On the question of whether both revenues
and expenditures should be included in a
Constitutional Convention or only revenues – 88%
overwhelmingly answered revenues and expenditures; 12%
answered revenues only.
In response to whether the enactment of
“pay to play” had proven successful, only 10% believe
it had, 90% of the Mayors believed it had not or were
not sure.
Sharing Services continues to be an
important part of our municipal activities every
working day. The survey reveals that many new
programs have been initiated in the past year. Mainly
in the areas of: public works, paid ambulance (PT or
FT), shared technologies, shared radio dispatch, and
shared municipal court. One fourth of our communities
applied for SHARE grants in 2006. This figure does
not include communities that did not respond to the
survey.
Mayors were asked the number of hours per
week spent doing municipal business (official or
informal). Half of our Mayors spend 25 to 45 hours,
32% spent 10 to 25 hours per week; 17% over 40 hours.
The Conference asked what many believe to
be considered a sensitive question regarding the
merging of communities: What incentive or reward
would convince you to merge your community with an
adjacent community or communities? Less
resistance was expressed than expected. 41 Mayors
indicated they would not be interested in any
incentive to merge; 32 Mayors expressed an interest if
there was an assurance of lower taxes. The remainder
discussed other options or refrained from comment.
83% of those voting do not believe the
State should provide funding assistance for installing
solar heating in public buildings.
Part II of the survey addressed NJCM’s activities and
services and sought the views of our membership.
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NJCM and the NJ Business and Industry Association
hosted an Economic Development Summit at Fairleigh
Dickinson University, December 6, 2006. 50% of the
respondents indicated they would attend.
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The 16th Annual Executive Summit and
Jersey Seafood Fest will be held in a new location
in a more central part of the State. 80% plan to
attend this important summit.
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Regarding the NJCM 44th Annual Conference
and Exhibition scheduled for
April 12 – 13, 2007
in
Atlantic City, 68% of those surveyed plan to attend.
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Suggestions for a Keynote Speaker for the 44th
Annual Conference include the following:
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Governor Jon Corzine (highest vote getter)
Senator Barak Obama
Senator Joe Biden
Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Senator John McCain
President Bill Clinton
Speaker Joe Roberts
When asked their preference for topics or panel
sessions, Mayors were asked to select 4 that were most
important to their community.
65% said Shared Services (best practices);
50% “How to Attract New Business;
42% Public Relations with Residents;
35% Relations with School Boards;
34% Protection of the Environment;
32% Controlling Sprawl
29% Labor Management issues
19% Public Relations with the Media.
15% Recruiting Quality Employees
13% Quality Job Growth
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As part of “Your Views on NJCM Activities and
Services, we asked what our Mayors like the most
about the New Jersey Conference of Mayors. The Top
5 items were:
1. Information and updates
2. Networking with Mayors and Business
Leaders
3. Focus Community issues
4. Good group support
5. The NJCM Magazine
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The final question requested a list of the top 3
priority items that you wish NJCM to lobby the
Governor and Legislature to implement in 2007. Not
surprisingly, Property Tax Reform was at the top of
the list with 60%; followed by school funding, 18%;
Shared Services, 15%; Benefit and Pension Reform,
9%; Unfunded mandate reform, 7%; expenditure
control, 2%.
Again, we wish to thank the many Mayors who
participated in the 2006 Year end Survey. Let us
please remind you that you do need to wait for the
survey to offer your suggestions and ideas that will
help us to assist our membership. |
