New Jersey Mayors Cry Foul

A series of articles hit the news today after small town mayors got a look at Governor Corzine's revised aid figures as a part of the state budget. It seems that everyone wants to reduce government as long as it isn't theirs. From a NY Times local article:

“We expect to have faith in our legislators, because to start cutting is detrimental to our residents,” Mayor Nancy Martin said Thursday. “What are we going to cut? A police officer? There’s no waste. There’s nothing left.”

Few places provide as a vivid a perch to view the exercise of home rule as the municipal building here on Main Street, where Mayor Martin governs a borough of just 2,023 that has its own police force, department of public works and fire inspector.

I have nothing against this town nor do I think its Mayor is that far off base. However, this town is a part of a culture in this state of massive government both local and state. One could argue that many of these smaller towns would best be served by creating regional policing and sharing other services either at the county level or through some regional partnerships with other towns. It the business world, this concept is common. When a sales territory stops producing and cannot sustain the business, that territory is usually absorbed into a bigger district to save money. The same rule should aply here.

The town mentioned in this article essentially became insolvent in 1993 when its principal business moved to West Virginia. The town has been surviving on 'emergency' state grants for several years. Sorry folks. How do you square having its own police force at the same time the town is on the dole. Every town does not need a police force and the infrastucture to run it. New Jersey consistantly ranks in the top ten of all states in 'justice' expenditures. So, it isn't a problem with the funding, just where it is directed.

Towns like this should have to be practical and consolidate services when they are not longer viable on their own. But the mayor is also right that Trenton cannot just look at the towns in the state and expect them to 'pay up'. That is how Trenton funds everything. It is time for the state government to show that it is capable of cutting the outrageous waste perpetuated by bad management and outright corruption. Your turn Governor.

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