Friday, May 17, 2013
Home buyouts in areas prone to flooding expected to start soon, though participation remains voluntary.
Buyouts of properties in flood prone areas are expected to begin within a matter of weeks, beginning in Middlesex County and working south into the summer months as residents and their respective town officials make the difficult decision to abandon entire neighborhoods for good. Though buyout specifics have been limited, Bob Martin, commissioner of New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection, said between eight and 10 towns along the coast have inquired about participating in the State’s Blue Acres program, which purchases severe repetitive loss homes in flood areas and converts the land into open space. Martin said he wanted to be cautious about naming the municipalities that have inquired about the property buyouts as many have …
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Christie rebate cuts cause 22.4 percent increase in net property taxes that hits those making under $150,000
Net property taxes in New Jersey rose 22.4 percent in Gov. Chris Christie's first three years in office, compared to just 6 percent in Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine's last three years in office, a New Jersey Spotlight analysis shows. Christie, who has made attacks on “Corzine Democrats” a centerpiece of his reelection campaign, has been touting his record of holding down overall property tax increases. But when Christie’s rebate reductions are factored in, his property tax record is not so clear-cut. While Corzine doubled average property tax rebates from 2006 to 2009 and provided rebates to families earning as much as $250,000, Christie sharply cut the size of rebate payments and limited eligibility for non-seniors to those earning $75,000 …
Monday, April 29, 2013
Highlands Council president hopes funding will get residents back in homes and businesses open
New Jersey’s disaster recovery plan calls for $1.83 billion to support a variety of housing, infrastructure and business programs, Gov. Christie and U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan announced Monday, six months after Hurricane Sandy devasted areas of the state's coast. Before a crowd of more than 50 at Moby’s Restaurant in Highlands, Donovan announced HUD’s approval of the disaster recovery plan to help homeowners’ and businesses following Hurricane Sandy. The $1.83 billion will be funded through HUD’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. “Today we take another important step toward recovery and healing for hard-hit communities in New Jersey,” said Donovan, who chairs President Barack Obama’s …
Friday, April 26, 2013
Homeowners are faced with a choice of elevating a home at a high cost or paying thousands more for flood insurance
Elevate, pay thousands more in flood insurance premiums or simply walk away from homes? That is the question on the minds of some Hurricane Sandy victims. The first floor of Craig Verran’s Manasquan home was totaled. A home that never took on water in its nine years is now being refurbished prior to Verran making his decision. “It’s a tough decision,” Verran said. “You either elevate or else. It’s an 'or else' situation. You’re going to face premiums that are unbearable.” In addition to $150,000 toward the damage to his home and car, Verran will be facing at least $75,000 to elevate his home or a $7,500 increase in his insurance, he said. Before Sandy, Verran’s home was 1 foot above the required elevation and not in a flood zone. Now, with…
Representatives from state and federal agencies will be on hand to answer storm-related questions
Berkeley and Lacey residents who need help dealing with Superstorm Sandy can get some answers today, when the state sets up a "mobile cabinet' at the Berkeley Township Recreation Center. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the center at 630 Route 9 South in Bayville, said Sean Conner, a spokesman for Gov. Chris Christie's office. Representatives from state and federal agencies will be on hand,including the Governor’s Office of Constituent Relations, the Department of Banking and Insurance, Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Community Affairs, the Business Action Center, FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP.) They will assist residents and discuss ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts. Residents …
Thursday, April 18, 2013
The rules will streamline rebuilding for homes and businesses along the shore.
New emergency rules filed by the Christie Administration with the Office of Administrative Law and the Department of Environmental Protection will help eliminate recovery red tape by easing permitting restrictions and encouraging coastal reconstruction following Hurricane Sandy, according to NJDEP. The new rules will streamline state permits for various types of rebuilding projects, which will assist in the recovery and reconstruction of homes and businesses, as well as marinas and shellfish industries. The new rules will also expedite dredging of storm-impacted private lagoons and marinas, helping make coastal areas more resilient to future storms. The rebuilding activities that will benefit from the less intense permitting process are …
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
The mobile cabinet features officials from various State agencies on hand to answer questions.
The Christie Administration's Mobile Cabinet tour through shore communities affected by Hurricane Sandy continues with a stop in Ortley Beach Friday. Gov. Chris Christie instituted mobile cabinets in an effort to pair head officials from several State and federal agencies with local residents impacted by the late October storm who are looking for answers as they continue to recover. The Friday Mobile Cabinet will be held at the police substation at 5 Ortley Plaza, Toms River from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents will have an opportunity to meet with officials from the Department of Banking and Insurance, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Community Affairs, the Business Action Center, FEMA, and the National Flood …
Monday, March 18, 2013
Governor was in Seaside Heights for the grand opening of a Home Depot satellite store
The newly-opened Home Depot satellite location in Seaside Heights will play a "central" part in helping local barrier island residents recover from Superstorm Sandy, said Gov. Chris Christie. "Home Depot is going to be a place that is going to be central to providing us with the supplies we need to make the recovery real and the assistance that we need to help folks get their work done as quickly as possible," Christie said during a Monday morning grand opening celebration. The store, located on Sumner Avenue in the same building as the White Pearl Hotel, employs disaster specialists with an aim of providing consultations and arranging delivery of goods to Sandy-stricken residents on the barrier island. During the visit to Seaside …
Monday, March 4, 2013
School board will hold special meeting at 6:30 p.m., Monday, March 4
The Board of Education is holding a special meeting on Monday, March 4 at 6:30 p.m. in the high school Lecture Hall for the submission of the 2013-14 preliminary budget to the Ocean County Superintendent of Schools. Last week, Gov. Chris Christie announced that Lacey schools would receive $87,278 more in state funding than they did in 2012-13. While Lacey received $20,972,424 in state aid in the 2012-13 year, the district will receive $21,059,702 in 2013-14. This is a 0.4 percent increase. "While it is a relief to all concerned in Lacey Township to learn that this year's State funding has not been reduced for our school district, the manner in which educational funding is allocated in the State of New Jersey continues to be unnerving,” …
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Christie's budget to provide $21.1 million to district
The Lacey Township School District will see state aid increased in 2013-14 by $87,278 over the current year, according to figures presented by Gov. Chris Christie Thursday. While Lacey received $20,972,424 in state aid in the 2012-13 year, the district will receive $21,059,702 in 2013-14. This is a 0.4 percent increase. The state Department of Education boasted that the 2013-14 aid package is the largest ever released by the state. Nearly $9 billion will go to public schools, an increase of about $97.3 million from the 2012-13 school year. While state aid remains flat for four districts in Ocean County, many will see an increase in aid this year, including Barnegat, Berkeley Township and Toms River. The districts throughout Ocean County …
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10:13 am on Saturday, May 18, 2013
@ Mrs. G. I hope you are being facetous and don't really believe that Christie could never mislead you. If you do believe that, I really feel sorry for you and have a bridge to sell you also. Don't choke on that breath of fresh air! more ›