MAR 2006

Gov. Jon S. Corzine's proposal to charge certain municipalities that depend on State Police patrols is nothing new, Buena Vista Township Mayor Chuck Chiarello said Tuesday.

"I don't know any governors that haven't put this out as a topic of discussion," he said Tuesday. But, he also noted, the proposal has never passed.

The budget the governor presented Tuesday includes having towns that have a lower tax rate or higher property values than the county average pay a partial reimbursement to offset the cost of State Police service. The budget shows that 73 municipalities receive full-time rural patrol services while 24 others receive part-time services. Six towns in Atlantic County rely on State Police patrols. The reimbursement plan would generate about
$24 million in revenue, according to the proposal.

The budget does not specify which towns would be affected.
"This topic of paying for State Police services has been bandied about many, many times over the years," Chiarello said. "There's a lot of factors that come into play that would have to be considered."

He said that because these are rural communities, they have limited financial resources and few ratables.

But Chiarello didn't seem worried that just because the item was proposed, the charges will come to fruition.

"Just like everything the governor presents today, everything is on the table," he said Tuesday. "It all has to get hammered out over the next couple of months within the Legislature.

"What you see today may not be what you see tomorrow," he added.

Buena Vista has a unique view, Chiarello said, because a road station and Troop A troopers both are headquartered in the township.

"We have a great respect for the State Police," he said. "We certainly not only need them, we have a vested interest in where they are located."

Port Republic Mayor Gary Giberson had not heard about the proposal and wanted to hold off comment until he has all the facts. He said that the tax-rate issue should mean Port Republic would not be one of the towns in the reimbursement, but he wanted to check on the numbers first.

"It's certainly something we will look into," he said.

Southern New Jersey lawmakers said they planned to fight the proposal.

"It's just not going to fly down south," said state Sen. Nicholas Asselta, R-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic. "If there were priorities, I'd rather see less police on the parkway and turnpike."

Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic, noted that former Gov. Jame E. McGreevey made the same proposal four years ago, but the Legislature killed it. He said towns in Cumberland and Cape May counties simply can't afford to pay for State Police.

"The deal is there's something on the table that's been on the table before, and we're going to have to get it off the table," Van Drew said. "My goal is to make sure those communities that should not be paying for State Police do not."

To e-mail Lynda Cohen at The Press: LCohen@pressofac.com

* * * * *

PROTECTION MONEY
These municipalities may have to pay for part of the

cost of State Police service under the proposed budget:
Atlantic County
* Buena Vista Township
* Corbin City
* Folsom
* Weymouth Township
* Estell Manor
* Port Republic
Burlington County
* Bass River Township
Cape May County
* Dennis Township
* Upper Township
* Woodbine
Cumberland County
* Fairfield Township (part)
* Greenwich Township
* Maurice River Township
* Commercial Township
* Downe Township
* Lawrence Township
* Hopewell Township
* Shiloh
* Stow Creek Township
* Deerfield Township
* Upper Deerfield Township
Ocean County
* Eagleswood Township