POLISTINA AND AMODEO CALL FOR REPEAL OF STATE POLICING FEE

POLISTINA AND AMODEO CALL FOR REPEAL OF STATE POLICING FEE  

As news of rural municipalities receiving bills for State Police services spread throughout the state, Assemblymen Vincent Polistina and John Amodeo called upon the Democrat-controlled legislature to repeal the budget item calling for the cost-sharing assessment.  Eighty-nine communities are impacted by the issue as the state seeks to generate $12.6 million in fees.

“Throughout the entire debate on the 2009 budget, we warned the administration that the inevitable result of their proposals would be an increase on taxpayers,” stated Polistina, R-Atlantic. “Unfortunately, that prediction has now come true.  No one should be surprised at what’s happening.  Not only are people struggling to survive in our state’s depressed economy, but now they’re being told they have to dig deeper to pay for a service that is provided for by the state constitution.  Urban communities also benefit from State Police services, yet they don’t face the additional $100 in property taxes that many of these towns will.”

Polistina was referring to a city such as Camden, which receives patrol coverage by the State Police, but does not contribute for the service.

“Republican legislators offered a common sense plan on how to balance the budget through expense reductions, and would have redirected some of the identified savings to priority areas,” commented Amodeo, R-Atlantic.  “Our proposals would not have resulted in the property tax increases that are now coming to the forefront as municipalities deal with reduced aid and new charges for services such as rural police monitoring.  No one in the administration paid attention or responded to our ideas, and that is regrettable.  Now the taxpayers will pay the price.”

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