Bridge scandal committee’s legal costs crack $725,000 (via NJ.com)
The legislative committee investigating the George Washington Bridge scandal has so far been billed more than $725,000 in legal fees, according to bills submitted by two attorneys representing the committee. Jenner & Block, which has several attorneys…
Former Gov. Tom Kean to replace Condoleezza Rice as Rutgers commencement speaker (via NJ.com)
NEW BRUNSWICK — Former Gov. Tom Kean will replace Condoleezza Rice as Rutgers University’s commencement speaker, the school announced today. Kean will deliver the address at the May 18 ceremony at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway. Rice,…
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today, 5-4, that prayer is permitted at government meetings.
The American public agrees with the decision, according to a FDU Public Mind poll conducted late last year following the oral arguments in Town of Greece v Galloway.
73% told FDU that prayer should be permitted at public meetings, 23% said it shouldn’t.
Posted: May 5th, 2014 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: U.S. Supreme Court | Tags: Public Prayer, U. S. Supreme Court | 5 Comments »
Analysis: Tax Amnesty Eyed As Part Of $1.4 Billion Budget Solution (via NJSpotlight)
Five years ago, Gov. Jon Corzine’s Treasury Department opened up envelopes containing more than $200 million in checks in a single day en route to a record $725 million tax amnesty windfall that not only solved a current-year budget crisis, but enabled…
Man caught with loaded handgun after chase in Asbury Park, police say (via NJ.com)
ASBURY PARK – A Long Branch man was charged with possession of a weapon after he led police on a foot chase and tried to get rid of a handgun, authorities said. At around 3 p.m. on Saturday, the city’s Street Crimes Unit was on a proactive patrol…
NJ has distributed less than 25 percent of Sandy aid (via NJ.com)
About a year after the federal government allocated $1.8 billion to New Jersey to rebuild after Hurricane Sandy, the state has distributed less than a quarter of the disaster relief aid, according to a new report. State officials, however, claim they…
By Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon
When Gov. Christie came to office in 2010, he took action to address the biggest problem New Jerseyans have faced for decades – property taxes. Working with the Legislature, historic tax reforms were signed into law. These included a two percent limit on property tax levies, increased health and pension contributions by public employees and a two percent cap on awards arbitrators can grant when towns and their unions can’t agree on a contract.
These cost control tools are working. Recent property tax data shows the average property tax bill grew by 1.7 percent in 2013 and by the lowest consistent rate in decades since the reforms were passed. While our ultimate goal is to actually cut property taxes, slowing their growth is an essential first step.
The clock is now counting down to the destruction of the delicate framework that has successfully controlled our property taxes. An essential component of that framework – the arbitration award cap which enables local officials to control their largest costs – expired on April 1 of this year. The first contracts exempt from the cap will expire in June. That will be a disaster for property taxpayers throughout New Jersey. Without an honest and effective arbitration award cap, the property tax cap will fail.
The state’s interest arbitration cap law is one of the primary reasons we have turned the tide on the escalation of property taxes. According to the Public Employment Relations Commission, from January 2011 (when the arbitration law took effect) to September 2013, average raises in local contracts, whether through arbitration or negotiations, were 1.86 percent — the lowest in at least 20 years.
Posted: May 4th, 2014 | Author: admin | Filed under: Declan O'Scanlon, NJ State Legislature, Property Tax Tool Kit, Property Taxes | Tags: Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon, Interest Arbitration Cap, Property Tax Cap, Property Tax Tool Kit, Property Taxes | 4 Comments »
Howell boy who went missing is found (via NJ.com)
HOWELL — Township police have located a 16-year-old autistic boy who went missing from Howell High School this morning. The boy, who was not named, was “safe and in condition,” according to an update on the department’s Facebook page. Contacted by…
Monday, May 5 from 10am to 3pm at Monmouth University,
Prevention First will hold a free training for owners, managers and employees of Monmouth County businesses that hold liquor licenses (restaurants, hotels, bars, nightclubs, etc.). Attendees will be taking a leading role in the effort to prevent alcohol misuse by attending this
training which will assist local servers and vendors in preventing illegal sales of alcohol to underage youth. Guests can expect to learn more about staying on top of the latest trends in false identification, developing innovative strategies to prevent selling alcohol to underage customers, understanding the legal and social consequences of serving underage
youth and helping to protect their community and becoming a part of the Hero Campaign. Register online for this event at www.PreventionFirst.net.
Free breakfast, lunch and giveaways will be provided.
For more information, contact Liza DeJesus, Prevention First,
732.663.1800, x 218, [email protected] or Suanne Schaad, Monmouth University, 732.263.5804, [email protected].
About Prevention First —
Prevention First is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency that has been
providing youth, parents and professionals with research-based
prevention programs to help children stay healthy, safe and
drug-free since 1967.
© Copyright 2026 | MoreMonmouthMusings | All Rights Reserved