Politics & Government
Senator: Ocean County Hard Hit by Budget Woes
Christopher Connors sits in as Barnegat township attorney
State Sen. Christopher J. Connors took time away from his lawyerly duties, filling in Friday as township attorney for the Barnegat Township Committee, to comment on the budget woes facing Ocean County municipalities.
“Property values in Ocean County had been on the rise for a number of years,” the District 9 Republican said. “Ocean County was one of the fastest growing counties in the state, and Barnegat was one of the fastest growing towns.
“As a result of that influx, for years, local governments benefited. They were funding an increase in government because of the size of the assessments,” the senator said.
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“We had a significantly high increase in market value. Then the worst recession we’d seen in years hit. The combination has been devastating,” Connors said.
“The state only brought in $28 billion, and we have programs that cost $38 billion so cuts were made… to state aid," he said in reference to declining awards to municipalities and school districts in recent years.
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“The best we can do is fight for our fair share. I can tell you we [Ocean County] don’t get our fair share [of state funds].”
And much of it has to do with the school funding formula, according to the senator. “Twelve billion dollars goes to 18 districts. And you’ve got over 500 districts sharing in the rest of the state aid. Most of the aid is going to the Abbott Districts. We keep pumping more state aid into the urban districts,” he said.
Just this week, the state Supreme Court to fund an additional $500 million for the 31 Abbott districts after ruling that the 2011 state budget didn't adequately meet the commitments required by the series of Abbott v. Burke rulings.
Connors also blamed the way the legislative map is set up. “Representation is based on population. Passaic and Hudson, the density [of population] is greater, so follow the votes. There is no incentive to change the formula because it works for the [majority], Connors said.
“Right now we’re looking at ways to reduce the burden. In Barnegat, they’re becoming more efficient with cost-sharing techniques,” he said.
