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Aha, but there is a corollary. Back then there were NO state income taxes, nor were there state SALES taxes. All state tax revenue is, was, and always will be generated from the people of the cities, townships, suburbs, and farmlands of the state. You didn't have imperial states with their imperial governors, with immense police forces, huge court systems rivalling small countries to deal with nuisance crimes (and enforce racism,) gargantuan prison systems, and massive beauraucracies as the largest employer in the state.

The concept of state largesse with money it somehow EARNS or PRINTS and distributes to little municipalities is a new, and very FAKE concept.

Shut down the state and a LOT of money remains with the cities who might then be more readily able to pay their own bills.

No, the municipalities get NOTHING from the state...it is quite the reverse.

"The UEZ also funded......streetscape improvements on Newark Avenue and Christopher Columbus Drive."

This needs a laughtrack.

The State is broke and the suburbs are also tapped out. The urban areas can no longer depend on the State to tax the suburbs and bail them out fiscally. Those days are gone. Even if you were to replace Christie with a hard core leftist.. there is simply no way to raise taxes without shrinking the tax base even more.

Its going to be the 19th to early 20th century all over again: Cities will have to pay their own bills with tax revenue generated within their own borders.

Jersey City property taxes cover LESS than 15% of the per pupil school costs. That is one heavy shoe that will be dropping in the near future. The really big cuts are going to be state aid to urban school districts.

He needs the extra money to eat more at Wendy's

State puts tight limits on what cities like Jersey City and North Bergen can spend UEZ money on

Tuesday, September 21, 2010
By MELISSA HAYES
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Officials in Hudson County expected cuts in the state's popular Urban Enterprise Zone program, which kicks back sale tax money to the towns to spend.

But the local officials didn't know until recently that there would be stark restrictions on how they can spend the money.

As of June 30, sanitation joined police and fire as part of a cap that prohibits zones from spending more than 35 percent of their projected balance on municipal services.

Last year, Jersey City spent $2.9 million of its UEZ budget on police and $1 million on the Jersey City Incinerator Authority's Second Chances Liter Patrol program.

UEZ director Roberta Farber said based on the amount of money she has left over, she can only allocate $1.35 million for municipal services this year.

"If we were to use that $1 million for the clean team then we could not fund the police, so we had to make a decision," she said.

Last year, North Bergen spent $1.7 on police and sanitation. This year, the UEZ only has $1 million to spend.

"We're trying to find a way to cut our budget or find other revenue to make up the difference," said Township Administrator Christopher Pianese.

All expenditures must be approved by the state Department of Community Affairs.

DCA spokeswoman Lisa Ryan said only proposals that "promote private sector jobs and improve the economic climate" would be approved.

Businesses in a UEZ are permitted to charge half the state's 7 percent sales tax, or 3.5 percent. Traditionally the majority of taxes collected in UEZs - about $91 million - was sent straight back to the zones for programs and services.

But Gov. Chris Christie took half that money to offset the state budget deficit and the other half went into a pot that the programs must apply to for project funding.

Zones must spend down their reserves before they can apply for new funding.

Was the UEZ program created as a permanent treasure trove of money for these municipalities? What makes these 37 municipalities more deserving of this kickback then any others in the state of NJ? Why should JC or any other town in NJ be subsidized by all the others? If anyone can help me understand this I would appreciate it.

Hudson would see rollbacks in services under Christie proposals to end sharing of taxes from UEZs

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

From police officers to streetscape improvements, municipal officials have used state Urban Enterprise Zone money to fund local improvements without dipping into the town coffers.

But under Gov. Chris Christie's proposed FY2011 budget, those funds would be frozen while the program is under review.


In Hudson County, Christie's proposal would affect Jersey City, Bayonne, Union City, North Bergen, Kearny, Guttenberg and West New York. Statewide there are 32 zones in 37 municipalities.

"You are putting a tremendous burden on all these municipalities that have no money," said Oscar Miqueli, coordinator of the West New York UEZ.

Businesses in a UEZ are permitted to charge half the state's 7 percent sales tax, or 3.5 percent. Some of the money goes to the state, but most of it is sent back to the communities for UEZ programs.

Christie has proposed suspending the revenue sharing for FY2011, which would allow the state to keep the entire 3.5 percent in sales tax.

The state Economic Development Authority would be charged with reviewing the program and analyzing whether it spurs economic development.

During fiscal year 2009, the state collected nearly $130 million in UEZs.

Christie's budget must still be approved by the Legislature.

Sen. Nick Sacco, the mayor of North Bergen, said 20 senators, who are also mayors of UEZ municipalities, are working to block the cuts.

In North Bergen, the UEZ funded traffic signals along Bergenline Avenue, security cameras, roadway improvements, and about $3 million annually in police, fire and public works salaries.

Since 2008, Jersey City has used $5.5 million in UEZ funds to hire 48 police officers. The UEZ also funded police vehicles, the CCTV network, and streetscape improvements on Newark Avenue and Christopher Columbus Drive.

"It will affect the city's bottom line," said Roberta Farber, director of the city's UEZ. "There are essential services that the UEZ helps the city support. It also helps us leverage state and federal matching funds."

Miqueli in West New York called the cuts "devastating." The West New York UEZ pays for 10 police officers, a cleaning crew, streetscape improvements and a marketing campaign.

In Kearny, the program pays for two patrolmen, a public works employee, and a shuttle bus driver.

MELISSA HAYES