MIDDLESEX COUNTY

Home News Tribune Online 10/16/06

Both Democrats and Republicans agree that property taxes are too high in New Jersey. Although New Jersey's overall tax burden is 17th in the nation, our state relies much too heavily on property taxes as a means of funding vital services and the cost of education. As a result, there is a bipartisan effort in the state Legislature to come up with solutions to the property-tax dilemma through four committees, which have been created for the sole purpose of making recommendations as to how to address this issue.

The committees have been conducting hearings in Trenton throughout the summer and into the fall. They are expected to make their recommendations for reform legislation by the end of October. One concept, which has received a lot of headlines, is a proposal to require regionalization of municipal services and possible consolidation of municipalities.

Although in the abstract, forced consolidation seems like a quick fix for property-tax relief, we want to go on record that this concept will, in our opinion, destroy the fabric of our state and result in very little if any savings. When government is involved, rarely is bigger better or more cost-effective.

In particular, we oppose the forced merger of our school systems. One of the top reasons that people decide to locate in a specific town is the quality of the school system. We are proud to represent seven municipalities that have outstanding schools. That excellence has been achieved and sustained by the support of the residents of those towns. It would be counterproductive to undermine that support by, for example, forcing the schools in East Brunswick or Edison or Metuchen to become part of a disconnected single Middlesex County School System. The taxpayers of each municipality should be able to stress the needs and goals of their particular residents. This input would be lost in a huge countywide system.

Sociological studies show that human beings identify themselves by geography more than any other single trait. When you first meet a stranger, you don't ask his or her religion or political affiliation, you ask, "Where are you from?" We identify our hometown with our roots. We take pride in our local schools. We root for our schools sports teams and point out their academic achievements. We should not take away that basic sense of pride and identity for tax savings, which are illusive at best.

Yes, there can be cost savings by consolidating some services such as tax collection, building and health inspections and municipal-court offices, but these should be done voluntarily and with incentives and assistance from the state.

At a recent hearing, an assemblyman asked if our residents would choose to live in nearly 600 separate towns if they had it to do all over again. We believe the answer to that question should be left up to the residents of those towns and not forced on them by Trenton.

Patrick J. Diegnan Jr., Peter J. Barnes Jr.,

Assemblymen, 18th District

MIDDLESEX COUNTY