Quality Public Education for All New Jersey Students

 

 
     Pre 2012 Announcement Archives
     2012-13 Announcement Archives
     2013-14 Announcement Archives
     2014-15 Announcement Archives
     Old Announcements prior April 2009
     ARCHIVE inc 2007 Announcements
     2009 Archives
     2008 Archives
     2007 Archives
     2006 Archives
     2010-11 Announcements
     2005 through Jan 30 2006 Announcements
7-18-13 Christie: $44.5M given to NJ towns and school districts left in huge budget hole by Sandy
Star Ledger - Christie: $44.5M given to N.J. towns and school districts left in huge budget hole by Sandy New Jersey towns and school districts left with huge budget deficits because of Hurricane Sandy cleanup costs have received $44.5 million in federal aid, money local officials say will help them avoid layoffs and other cutbacks — at least for this year...

Star Ledger - Christie: $44.5M given to N.J. towns and school districts left in huge budget hole by Sandy

By MaryAnn Spoto/The Star-Ledger The Star-Ledger on July 17, 2013 at 8:36 PM

 New Jersey towns and school districts left with huge budget deficits because of Hurricane Sandy cleanup costs have received $44.5 million in federal aid, money local officials say will help them avoid layoffs and other cutbacks — at least for this year.

In Toms River today, Gov. Chris Christie and state Consumer Affairs Commissioner Richard Constable III highlighted essential services grants that went to municipalities that could have faced double-digit tax increases in the aftermath of last October’s superstorm.

"The idea behind this program was to avoid what a lot of people were worried about … the obvious decrease in ratable base that happened because homes were destroyed or significantly damaged," Christie told a group of neighborhood leaders. "The towns would have to raise property taxes in order to be able to meet the costs of providing services. By providing these funds, we’re avoiding that problem for the property taxpayers in the affected towns."

Toms River lost 18 percent of its tax ratables. Without the aid, Mayor Thomas Kelaher said, residents could have faced a property tax increase of up to 30 percent. In all, Toms River will receive $28 million in grants — $15.5 million for the township and $12.5 million for the board of education.

"It’s absolutely a godsend for Toms River," Kelaher said. "It means we’re not going to have to raise taxes."

Police Chief Michael Mastronardy said his department, which is already down seven officers, would have had to cut nine more positions by next year to meet the budgetary constraints caused by Sandy.

The grants, which started being distributed last month, will also help prevent cuts in public works departments and other areas that are considered crucial to rebuilding after the storm, officials said.

In addition to Toms River and its board of education, grants went to Ocean County, Asbury Park, Atlantic City and Sea Bright. The Brigantine, Keansburg, Lavallette, Little Egg Harbor and Pinelands Regional school boards also received grants. Constable said more than $15 million is still available for other towns or boards of education with budget woes.