Rural Towns Spared State Police Fee, and an Education Update
Posted October 24, 2008

In August, we brought you the story of the state’s attempt to make rural towns pay for state police services. We reported that 89 towns across the state had received bills totaling $12.6 million – payable to Trenton to offset a fraction of the $80 million the state spends to provide police services to rural municipalities.

Naturally, the 89 towns were anything but pleased, and several filed complaints with the Council on Local Mandates, an eight-member body created by a 1995 state constitutional amendment and authorized to issue decisions related to the constitutionality of state laws and regulations – decisions, incidentally, that are not subject to state judicial review. Now, thanks to a ruling issued this week by the council, it appears the towns can keep their $12.6 million after all.

As the Atlantic City Press reports, The council, “struck down a requirement that rural municipalities pay for their State Police coverage, calling it an illegal unfunded mandate,” and noting the requirement “ran afoul of the 1996 state constitutional amendment that state mandates require state funding.”

The decision met with praise from the towns and, not surprisingly, a strong hint from the state that the fight it not over.

“We were surprised, but very pleased that they ruled in our favor,” said Ted Baker, the municipal judge in Pittsgrove Township who argued in favor of the municipalities. “Since 1921, the state of New Jersey has paid for the state police. We estimated it would have cost at least $100 per property in every one of the municipalities to provide the funding that the state was requesting. We suspect that there’s some funding in the state’s $30 billion 2008-2009 FY budget that can make up for this shortfall.”

William Dressel, executive director of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, also voiced his approval, noting the decision “is not just a win for the 89 municipalities, but for all local governments because this would have set a dangerous precedent in foisting upon the local property taxpayer costs for providing services that the state has traditionally paid for.”

Even though the council’s decisions are final, the state indicated it would not accept the ruling lying down. “We strongly disagree with the council’s decision and are considering all options to reverse its potential impact,” said Leland Moore, a spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office.

Speaking even more directly, Governor Corzine stated, “We can always go and take municipal aid in some other place if we can’t do it in this place.”

At least for now, however, New Jersey’s rural towns have been spared a burdensome state fee that would invariably have resulted in higher taxes for local residents.

And on the Education Front…

By an 8-2-1 vote, the Assembly Appropriations Committee yesterday passed A375, a bill which would raise the state’s compulsory education edge from 16 to 18 (unless the student graduates from high school prior to turning 18). Supporters hope the measure will reduce the state’s high school dropout rate, which, at approximately 17 percent, is actually one the lowest in the nation.

The bill now goes to Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr. (D-Camden), who can post it for a vote by the full Assembly. We will keep you posted.

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