TRENTON – Senators Donald Norcross, Brian P. Stack and M. Teresa Ruiz today said the refusal of Republicans to restore critical funding for municipalities that are facing extraordinary budget circumstances will devastate New Jersey’s cities.
Republicans failed to support the restoration of $149 million in Transitional Aid in the FY2012 budget. The funding is the state’s only discretionary financial assistance program, and is only available to municipalities anticipating difficulties making payments toward nondiscretionary or critical obligations including debt service, contractual obligations and public safety payroll. The GOP also voted against restoring $50 million in public safety aid to 150 municipalities across the state.
“Our cities are already reeling from a down economy. Public safety has been decimated, workforces have been slashed and services cut to the bone,” said Senator Norcross (D-Camden/Gloucester). “The bottom line is, our cities have run out of places to cut back and in many urban centers a robust tax base just doesn’t exist. Without a reversal of these devastating cuts, cities across our state will be in jeopardy of total economic collapse.”