S1833

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which would authorize the Greenwood Lake Commission to charge certain fees to permanently fund environmental cleanup of the lake was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 21-17.

“As New Jersey seeks financial reckoning in terms of how we fund our biggest priorities, we’re going to look for programs to become more self-sufficient,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, and the Chair of the Senate Environment Committee. “For many years, we’ve funded the operations of the Greenwood Lake Commission from State coffers, to ensure that the lake remains a top-tier recreation destination in the tri-State area. But as we continue to try to do more with less, we need to give the Commission a dedicated revenue source to continue its mission of preserving the natural beauty of Greenwood Lake.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which would authorize the Greenwood Lake Commission to charge certain fees to permanently fund environmental cleanup of the lake was approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today by a vote of 8-3, with 1 abstention.

“As New Jersey struggles to find funding for our State’s biggest environmental priorities, we need to ask other agencies to do more with less, and move towards self-sufficiency,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, and the Chair of the Committee. “The Greenwood Lake Commission would be able to support itself through a modest user fee imposed on those who enjoy the lake. Given our nearly chronic budget shortfalls and the diversion of funds away from environmental projects, user fees would be an important mechanism to allow the Commission to continue its work maintaining Greenwood Lake.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which would authorize the Greenwood Lake Commission to charge certain fees to permanently fund environmental cleanup of the lake was unanimously approved by the Senate Environment Committee today.

“As New Jersey struggles with nearly chronic budgetary shortfalls, we need to look to new ways to fund worthwhile programs,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, and the Chair of the Committee. “Government agencies at all levels are being asked to do more with less, and all options are on the table to balance our books and bring back a sense of fiscal responsibility to Trenton. It’s time that some of our State’s commissions and localized programs move towards self-sufficiency.”