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TRENTON – Two measures sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which would promote shared services in New Jersey schools and develop an enhanced 9-1-1 public safety answering system, among other reforms to cut the cost of government in New Jersey, were approved today by the Senate.

“With the passage of these bills today, we’re one step closer to more efficient government in New Jersey,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, the co-chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Service, the legislative panel that recommended the reforms. “New Jersey’s taxpayers pay the price for overlapping services, unending bureaucracy, and inefficiency and waste in the system. Through these bills, we can streamline services, and put downward pressure on property taxes in the Garden State.”

TRENTON – Senator Bob Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, the co-Chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services, issued the following statement regarding today’s hearing on Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts’ “CORE” reform package to encourage government consolidation:

“The Speaker’s ‘CORE’ plan for property tax savings is an invaluable part of real, sustained reform, and fits in nicely with the proposals already talked about in this Committee, including Senator Kyrillos’ municipal merger commission, and my effort to consolidate school administrative functions.