Meeting on governor’s toll plan set for Feb. 7 at ACCC
Posted by Jersey Shore Breaking News at Friday, January 18. 2008 and is filed under The Current of Hamilton Township 
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP – Residents will have a chance to weigh in on Gov. Jon Corzine’s plans for statewide financial restructuring and debt reductions at a special town hall meeting 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7 at Atlantic Cape Community College.
According to officials with the governor’s office, reservations are encouraged but not required.
The financial plan, revealed in Corzine’s state of the state address, calls for a 50 percent increase in tolls on the Garden State Parkway, Atlantic City Expressway and the New Jersey Turnpike in 2010, plus another 50 percent every four years through 2022.
He also called for the creation of a new corporation, a non-profit “public benefit corporation” with an independent board of directors to operate and maintain the three toll roads and a section of Route 440 in Middlesex County. Under the plan, state debt would be reduced via the public benefit corporation paying the state for the right to operate the roads and collect tolls.
The plan does not call for selling or leasing the state’s toll roads, which saw extensive discussion during the November election campaign. While Corzine originally requested the Legislature look into “monetization” of state roads, in June he issued a statement on his core principals on asset monetization, under which the first principal states “New Jersey’s roadways will not be sold; and they will not be leased to a for-profit foreign operator.”
According to a Corzine spokesman, the meeting, and others like it around the state, will include a presentation on the financial plan and time for questions and comments from the public.
“Now – I fully appreciate the challenge of getting one’s mind around these various options,” said Corzine in his address. “And I don’t expect you to walk out and say ‘I’ll sign up.’ That’s why there will be 21 town hall meetings, in 21 counties. That’s why we will have an open, honest, public dialogue with all of you over the next two months.”
The proposal has already been criticized by some lawmakers. Corzine said that the state’s debt must be brought under control and that he is open to hearing any alternative ideas.
“Please, let’s not insult each other or the public with empty rhetoric about that we can pay down the debt and fund transportation improvements if we ‘just cut more spending and get rid of all waste, fraud and abuse.’ We will cut spending. We will direct trust fund monies to their proper place, we will challenge fraud and raise accountability standards, and we will end spending gimmicks,” Corzine said. “But pigs will fly over the Statehouse before there’s a realistic level of new taxes or spending cuts that can fix this mess.”
Assemblymen John Amodeo and Vince Polistina issued a press release Thursday, Jan. 17 urging a strong turnout.
"This is an excellent opportunity for the residents of this county to let the governor know just what they think of his proposal," the Republicans said in a joint statement. "The polling data this week shows the people of New Jersey overwhelmingly oppose this plan, but the governor should hear those plans directly."
The meeting is scheduled for the Walter Edge Theater at ACCC, 5100 Black Horse Pike, Mays Landing.
While anyone can attend, there is a registration page where residents can sign up for the meeting: www.state.nj.us/townhallmeetings/rsvp/index.html. They can also call (609) 777-2529.
According to officials with the governor’s office, reservations are encouraged but not required.
The financial plan, revealed in Corzine’s state of the state address, calls for a 50 percent increase in tolls on the Garden State Parkway, Atlantic City Expressway and the New Jersey Turnpike in 2010, plus another 50 percent every four years through 2022.
He also called for the creation of a new corporation, a non-profit “public benefit corporation” with an independent board of directors to operate and maintain the three toll roads and a section of Route 440 in Middlesex County. Under the plan, state debt would be reduced via the public benefit corporation paying the state for the right to operate the roads and collect tolls.
The plan does not call for selling or leasing the state’s toll roads, which saw extensive discussion during the November election campaign. While Corzine originally requested the Legislature look into “monetization” of state roads, in June he issued a statement on his core principals on asset monetization, under which the first principal states “New Jersey’s roadways will not be sold; and they will not be leased to a for-profit foreign operator.”
According to a Corzine spokesman, the meeting, and others like it around the state, will include a presentation on the financial plan and time for questions and comments from the public.
“Now – I fully appreciate the challenge of getting one’s mind around these various options,” said Corzine in his address. “And I don’t expect you to walk out and say ‘I’ll sign up.’ That’s why there will be 21 town hall meetings, in 21 counties. That’s why we will have an open, honest, public dialogue with all of you over the next two months.”
The proposal has already been criticized by some lawmakers. Corzine said that the state’s debt must be brought under control and that he is open to hearing any alternative ideas.
“Please, let’s not insult each other or the public with empty rhetoric about that we can pay down the debt and fund transportation improvements if we ‘just cut more spending and get rid of all waste, fraud and abuse.’ We will cut spending. We will direct trust fund monies to their proper place, we will challenge fraud and raise accountability standards, and we will end spending gimmicks,” Corzine said. “But pigs will fly over the Statehouse before there’s a realistic level of new taxes or spending cuts that can fix this mess.”
Assemblymen John Amodeo and Vince Polistina issued a press release Thursday, Jan. 17 urging a strong turnout.
"This is an excellent opportunity for the residents of this county to let the governor know just what they think of his proposal," the Republicans said in a joint statement. "The polling data this week shows the people of New Jersey overwhelmingly oppose this plan, but the governor should hear those plans directly."
The meeting is scheduled for the Walter Edge Theater at ACCC, 5100 Black Horse Pike, Mays Landing.
While anyone can attend, there is a registration page where residents can sign up for the meeting: www.state.nj.us/townhallmeetings/rsvp/index.html. They can also call (609) 777-2529.
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