From The Press of Atlantic City — Buena Vista Township in Atlantic County has received its bill for State Police services next year: $303,251 according to a letter signed by state Treasurer R. David Rousseau.

Mayor Chuck Chiarello estimates this will represent between 10 percent and 15 percent of the town’s budget, which was $2 million this year.

Property taxes will increase an average of $100 per household for Buena Vista’s 2,498 residents and $534 for local businesses, Chiarello said Tuesday.

Mayors from across the state received bills from the State Treasurer this week, detailing a 
$12.5 million charge for State Police coverage. This came as a surprise to several Atlantic County mayors and state legislators.

In Atlantic County, Port Republic was charged $49,000, Estell Manor $87,000, Corbin City $25,000, Folsom $88,000 and Weymouth Township $80,000, according to State Sen. Jim Whelan, D-Atlantic.

Although the charge was expected, many lawmakers expressed surprise the bills came this soon.

“We could have probably come up with a solution instead of just sending out bills,” said Senate Majority Leader Stephen M. Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland. “This was the easy way out.”

“All of us were assured that there would be a continual dialogue,” said Sen. Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic. “I did not know (the mayors) were receiving these bills.”

Folsom Mayor Tom Ballistreri said traffic ticket numbers were down in his town.

“My revenues are down 50 percent. That means the state troopers aren’t writing as many tickets. Now we are being charged for a service that is down?” he asked. “This pretty much sums up New Jersey.”

The 2009 budget requires the 76 towns receiving full-time police protection from State Police to enter into a co-sharing agreement with the state to continue receiving those services, the letter stated.

In February, state officials gave municipalities three options: pay for State Police services, create their own police force or consolidate with existing departments.

A Dec. 15 deadline is detailed in the letter for towns to inform the states of their plans. Figures for each town were determined by “a model that allocated costs based on property value and types of property.”

Whelan joined Sweeney, Van Drew and State Sen. Chris Connors, R-Ocean, Burlington, Atlantic, in a meeting with six Atlantic County mayors in Estell Manor to discuss the charge.

“I think this is wrong. This is not treating municipalities fairly,” Connors said.

Mayors from Estell Manor, Weymouth Township, Corbin City, Folsom, Buena Vista and Mullica Township were in attendance. Mullica Township has its own police department, while the other six are patrolled by State Police.

“I truly believe we are opening Pandora’s box,” Estell Manor Mayor Joe Venezia said.

The State Police was established in 1921 to patrol rural areas unable to fund individual police departments, he said.

Estell Manor will join Buena Vista and six other New Jersey municipalities in a complaint filed with Council on Local Mandates claiming that the fee for State Police is an unfunded mandate and that it is unconstitutional to charge towns for services.

The League of Municipalities also voiced concern Tuesday.

“We’re sensitive to the state’s plight, but they aren’t sensitive to ours,” Executive Director William G. Dressel, Jr. said.

“I’m trying to come up with a fair way, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult. It’s their way or the highway. That may not be the message they are sending, but that’s what the mayors are getting.”

The League supports a bill proposed by Van Drew and Assemblyman Nelson Albano, D-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic. The bill seeks to create revenue to fund state police by imposing a $40 surcharge on moving violations.

“My bill would allow stabilization or decrease in property taxes for those that have traditional police and rural police,” Van Drew said. “Everyone gains.”

Whelan and Sweeney stated they support the bill as well as did all mayors in attendance.

Officials from the treasurer’s office did not return calls Tuesday.

The League will host a meeting for all rural mayors Sept. 4 at the College of New Jersey to discuss strategies for municipalities.

 

E-mail Sam Fran Scavuzzo:

SScavuzzo@pressofac.com