Loophole on town mergers targeted

Key legislator seeks to bolster commission

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

BY TOM HESTER

Star-Ledger Staff

Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts (D-Camden) said yesterday he will introduce legislation in May that would take the Legislature out of the process that determines if two towns should merge.

Under the current guidelines, the fledgling Local Unit Alignment, Reorganization and Consolidation Commission would recommend if two or more towns should merge in an effort to cut government costs. The recommendation then goes to the Legislature, and, if approved, would be finally decided on by a vote of the residents of the towns involved.

Roberts said he wants to close what he sees as a "loophole" that could defeat or slow the commission's efforts. "We need to give real teeth to the commission's work so its recommendations are not simply dismissed out-of-hand," he said.

Gov. Jon Corzine said he's open to the idea but needs to learn more about it. "Without knowing all the details or how that would work, going directly to the voters would lead to a more expeditious action with regard to a vote," he said.

In addition to eliminating the clause allowing the Legislature to overturn the commission's recommendations before they reach voters, Roberts' proposal would authorize the state to reduce aid for municipalities that reject the panel's consolidation proposals. He said the plan would not result in the immediate wholesale consolidation of municipalities to the detriment of one town over the other. Recommendations for consolidation would be made only after careful evaluation of each town's individual level of efficiency.

"We have the ability to address the problem of our overabundance of local government without sacrificing the individual community identities that make New Jersey such a special place to live," said Roberts. "Choosing to continue ignoring these problems will eventually leave us with hundreds of municipalities that are as charmingly colloquial as they are wholly unaffordable."

New Jersey has 657 cities and towns, 617 school districts, and over 500 other local taxing authorities. The state has more municipalities and government entities per square mile than any other state, and the highest property taxes in the nation.

Tom Hester may be reached at thester@starledger.com or at (609) 292-0557.