To the Editor:
Please consider publication of the below listed
letter to the editor.
Senator Van Drew Willing to Help
State Police Communities
I'm amazed how quickly folks are willing to
criticize leaders like Senator Jeff Van Drew who
has stood tall on the State Police funding
issue. Van Drew has taken the high road by
offering a bipartisan funding solution to
help some 89 rural towns that are served by the
State Police. Van Drew's Legislation
(S-1976) will also help every community
in New Jersey that has its own local Police
Department. Legislation is a starting point for
discussions to happen in Trenton. Whether it's
a $40 surcharge for moving violations or a $15
surcharge-- a dialogue must begin. The
administration has repeatedly said---if you want
to keep funding in place find another solution
to the problem. Van Drew has done that!
Most rural towns served by State Police suffer
from mandated growth restrictions like the
Pinelands, Highlands and extremely large areas
of State Preservation. Our local courts send
the bulk of ticket fines issued by the State
Police to Trenton. Our towns pay for court
personnel and expenses mainly to handle State
Police operations.
Trenton just sent Newark an additional $45
million dollars in aid that they
needed, but then Trenton takes away $12.5
million in existing funds from the 89 rural
towns that have State Police services.
I've heard a lot of complaining lately
about State Police towns paying their fair
share, but let's set the record straight. Towns
with local Police Departments don't send the
bulk of their ticket fine money to Trenton.
Most communities in New Jersey get special help
from the State of New Jersey in one way
or another. Some examples include: Beach
replenishment funds and bridge repair dollars to
help shore communities. Many urban areas
receive State Police services, special urban aid
and Abbott School District
funding. Towns that perform poorly or that are
financially strapped receive extraordinary aid
from the State.
So what is fair? I can understand that Trenton
wants to make cutbacks and save the taxpayers
money, but what Trenton has done is create
automatic tax increases for 89 towns next year.
So before you criticize rural State Police
communities or Senator Van Drew learn all the
facts first.
Sincerely,
Mayor Chuck Chiarello
Buena Vista Township
Contact number: 609-513-0569
Contact address: PO Box 70, 119 Broad
Street, Milmay, NJ 08340
