Through the leadership of Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer, NJCM has been involved in numerous legislative initiatives dealing with gang violence.  Six pieces of legislation have been introduced in the legislature relating to anti-gang issues. The bills have been reviewed by our legislative committee, and they can be divided into two separate initiatives; law enforcement and education.  

Under law enforcement, the legislative committee supported the following bills:

A 183 establishes as a crime, the rituals of criminal street gangs.

S 447/A 1706 directs the Attorney General to include information in the Uniform Crime Report and requiring gang information to be included on finger print cards. 

Under education, the legislative committee supported the following bills:

A 1650 requires boards of education to offer elementary school students instruction in gang violence prevention.            

S 1748/A 1973 requires the Attorney General’s Office to provide annual gang education seminars for school administrators.

S 731/A 713 upgrades the crime of soliciting or recruiting for  criminal street gangs while on school property; however we suggested the bill be expanded to include all drug free zones within a municipality.  

S 1748/A 1973 which permits a municipality to enact an ordinance to curb gang violence relating to loitering and criminal activity was held by the committee in order for counsel to review the legal implications of such a bill.  

NJCM President Ron Sworen stated that “NJCM will continue to provide leadership in this important and dynamic area of social change.”   

NJCM TO EVALUATE SHARED SERVICE PROPOSED LEGISLATION 

Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts has recently announced a set of bills addressing municipal shared services. A number of these proposed initiatives have already been initiated by NJCM member Mayors, however, this maybe the first time that a lawmaker has proposed such sweeping changes in the area of shared services.  

Roberts recently announced the plan at a State House press conference attended by Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman, Assembly Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nellie Pou and Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula, who has been a strong supporter of shared services.  Mayor Ron Sworen was an invited guest.  

The main focus of Robert’s initiative is to promote and encourage an array of shared services by streamlining the various laws governing local government. The initial reaction from the Mayors was cautiously optimistic, however; “the devil will be in the details.”   

Over the next several weeks, NJCM will be contacting Mayors to obtain comments and suggestions before the legislative committee makes final recommendations. The next legislative NJCM committee meeting is scheduled for June 22, 2006.

FY 2007 State Budget – Municipal Aid 

Governor Corzine proposed his first state budget in March with mixed reactions from legislators and trade groups.  The Governor proposed a $30.9 Billion budget characterizing the plan as containing “a strong sense of fiscal discipline” and one that “makes hard choices”.  The proposal reduces spending in certain areas by about $ 3 Billion through proposed staff reductions and spending cuts.  Also, there is about $ 2 Billion in revenue “enhancements” including an increased sales tax. 

As for Municipal Aid the budget leaves the essential programs such as Consolidated Municipal Property Tax Relief Aid (CMPTRA) at the same level as last year.  However, since it remains the same as last year there is no inflationary adjustment.  This more than likely results in a practical effect of a town realizing less aid since local costs are increasing.  Also, Extraordinary Aid for emergencies is cut by $13 Million. 

The outlook for increasing Municipal Aid is unclear. While legislators seem sympathetic they have not otherwise been specific with any proposals to increase Aid or to assist in reducing added costs to municipalities like payment for state police operations at the local level. 

The Senate and Assembly Budget Committees continue hearings on the budgets until June. While neither the budget committees nor the leadership in either the Assembly or Senate has yet proposed specific budget language, it is likely there will be significant changes from what the Governor has proposed.  For instance legislators have stated that they intend for the sales tax increase to look significantly different and suggested eliminating this increase all together.   

FY 2007 State Budget - School Aid and Special Needs Districts

While Municipal Aid is flat in the Governor’s proposed budget, so is the proposed funding levels for School Aid and funding to the Abbott Districts.  Such a proposal will only add increased pressure on local tax bills as additional costs in the local school budget will accelerate.   

In an exceptional decision from the New Jersey Supreme Court, however, the Corzine Administration received temporary relief from pressure to increase funding in the Abbott districts.  The Court ruled that the administration, due to the current fiscal conditions could, in this budget, forgo increases to funding in the Abbott districts.  In a recent decision, the Court did clarify that the budget must include funding to open new schools which have been completed by the School Construction Corporation. 

The proposed budget has only about $100 Million more than last budget for a total of $7.5 Billion of direct school aid.  The only significant increase is for contributions to the state teacher pension and benefit funds and an increase in the school construction fund by about $115 Million.  The legislature has not yet proposed any plan for school funding. 

During June the legislature and the Corzine Administration will work through the tough process of negotiating and completing a state budget prior to the constitutional deadline of June 30.  The NJCM Legislative Committee will be actively engaged in the deliberations about the budget.