I had a table at yesterday’s Fall Festival and got to talk politics with a lot of really cool people. I had with me a list of mandates that the state burdens our towns with. This is one one the primary drivers of our insane property taxes. Several people asked if I had an extra copy of the list available which regretfully I didn’t. For those people, if they happen to log on, here is a re-post of a story I wrote about it a few months ago:
Mandated Into Oblivion
I obtained a copy of a 2008 letter written from the township manager of a North Jersey town to a State Assembly committee chairman and cced to a number of NJ public officials. It has an attachment listing state mandates that this particular town of 6100 is forced to implement. It is pointed out in the letter that this list is by no means exclusive. More detail on any particular mandate is available from me for the asking.
Police Domestic Violence Training – 84 man hours
Police CPR/AED First Responder – 84 man hours
Police Gas Mask Fit Testing – 21 man hours
Police Hazmat/Blood borne Pathogens course – 84 man hours
Police ICS 100, 200, 800 Certification – 378 man hours
Police Counter Terrorism Certification – 378 man hours
Police Annual Firearms Qualification – 252 man hours
Police Automatic Weapons/Carbines Training – 336 man hours
Police Active Shooter Class – 88 man hours
Police Firearms Instructor – 12 man hours
Police Active Shooter Instructors – 48 man hours
Dispatcher CPR/AED Training – 25 man hours
Dispatcher EMD Training – 32 man hours
Dispatcher Hazmat/Blood borne Pathogens Course – 25 man hours
Dispatcher EMD/911 Instructor – 48 man hours
Dispatcher Gas Mask Fit Testing – 5 man hours
Dispatcher ICS 100, 200, 800 Certification – 60 man hours
Alcotest equipment and training
Recording System for interviews and arrests
Mandatory Police Related Equipment
Police and Firemen’s Retirement System Mandates
Police Contract Arbitration
Megan’s Law
Playground Safety Enhancements
Automated External Defibrillators & Training
Planning Board Members Training
Zoning Board Members Training
Master Plan and Master Plan Reexamination Reports
Municipal Engineer Requirements
Municipal Land Use Attorney Requirements
Stan Planning Commission – Plan Endorsement
Highlands Council Plan Conformance
COAH
NJDEP Regulations
NJDEP Storm water Management Programs
NJDEP Water/Sewer testing
Wastewater & Water Quality Management Plans
Stormwater Management Plans
Certified Public Works Coordinator
Certified Recycling Coordinator and Program
Truck & Equipment Washing Facilities
Water Operations Course and Certification
Misc Public Works Training Requirements
Deer Carcass Removal from highways
Court Personnel Training
Court Administrator Training
Mandatory use of State Forms and Tickets
Bullet Proof Glass for Court Rooms
Court Security Plan
Public Employee Retirement Systems Appropriations Mandates
Mandatory Heath Care Insurance Contributions
Mandatory Negotiations Regarding Public Union Groups
Open Public Records Act
Elections Training and Machines
Certified Purchasing Agent
Green Products Purchasing Course
Prevailing Wage Laws for all Publicly Funded Projects
Prevailing Wage Laws for Public Utility Construction
Mandatory Property Revaluation
Public Employee Occupational Safety & Health Act
Office of the State Controller Statutory Reporting Requirements
Public Employee Retirement System/Teachers Pension and Annuity Fund Contributions
Full Day Preschool
Full Day Kindergarten
Special Education Requirements
School Psychiatric Evaluations
School Board Election Recall Officials Training
NJDOE Student Testing Requirements
(School) Public Employee Occupational Safety and Health Act (PEOSH) Right to Know
PEOSH Asbestos Inspection
PEOSH Smoke Stack Permits
PEOSH Water Testing
PEOSH Boiler License
PEOSH Florescent Bulb Recycling
PEOSH Long Range Facilities Plan
PEOSH Fire Retardant Protection
After imposing all this (and more) on us, the state tells us that the reason our taxes are so high is that we haven’t merged with Neptune.
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