Governor's Toll Road Plan Under Heavy Fire

by: mikeshapiro

Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 11:52:13 PM EST

Governor Corzine's plan to use toll hikes to pay down the State debt has come under heavy fire in recent days. A few weeks ago, it looked more likely to pass than not, with many Democrats in the Legislature expressing support and the endorsement of the pro-business Chambers of Commerce. However, this past week, all 17 Republican State Senators and all 32 Republican Assemblymen signaled that they would oppose the plan. Since the Democrats have a majority in both Legislative houses, the Republican opposition was not a deal-breaker. However, State Senator John Adler, a prominent Democrat who is running for Congress, announced his opposition, as well. In addition, a group of environmental and transportation groups declared their rejection of the Governor's plan as long as it continues to include widening some major roadways. Suddenly, the asset monetization plan looks dead on arrival.

mikeshapiro :: Governor's Toll Road Plan Under Heavy Fire

The toll hike plan calls for increasing tolls substantially over the next decade and using the money to pay down the State's debt, establish a transportation trust fund, and widen several major roadways through the use of bonds. Paying down the debt is critical to the long-term future of our State. Interest on the State's debt could cripple New Jersey's economy in the coming years should it not be dealt with promptly. However, whether significantly increasing tolls to accomplish the task is the best way to go is questionable. Furthermore, if the State is in such massive debt, why does the Governor's plan call for spending $4 billion (yes, with a "b") to widen roadways? In addition, why does all of the pain for paying down New Jersey's debt have to fall on drivers?

A possible solution would be a smaller and more incremental toll increase coupled with significant government spending cuts and no allocation for widening the major roads. It might be suggested that the toll roads leading into and out of New York and Pennsylvania on the Jersey side be the only ones to be increased. That would enable some of the State's debt to be paid by non-residents. Those who do not wish to pay increased tolls can use other roads, thereby alleviating congestion in the most critical areas. Such a plan would enable the paydown of the State's arrearage while forcing the government to live within its means and garnering the support of the environmental and transportation groups that currently oppose it. In addition, the plan would likely find increased approval by residents of New Jersey.

The Governor should start considering such alternatives before any hope left for passage of a plan to pay down the State's debt is gone.

Tags: Corzine, Asset Monetization, toll road, toll hike, John Adler, Linda Stender, (All Tags)

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Governor's Toll Road Plan Under Heavy Fire | 4 comments

Don't cut Point of Service Workers (4.00 / 1)

There will be a huge outcry for State Government cutbacks in the coming weeks. There are many ways to save money in State Government. The easy way , and the most foolish way, is to just cutback the Point of Service State worker. Just layoff that person YOU see . Remember that for every two Point of Service workers who actually do the work of the State , there is a high paid Bureaucrat just standing around in the back office.

If cutbacks must occur it must be done in an intellegent way.

One $90,000 Supervisor equals two Point of Service workers in a Mental Health facility or at the counter of DMV.

Who REALLY is more important to the state taxpayers?

by: firstamend07 @ Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:12:31 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

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Get rid of the high paid bureaucrats first! (0.00 / 0)

Now my friends, I am opposed to the system of society in which we live today, not because I lack the natural equipment to do for myself but because I am not satisfied to make myself comfortable knowing that there are thousands of my fellow men who suffer

by: evdebs @ Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 19:04:37 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

What is this stuff... (0.00 / 0)

I hear on the radio? Apparently, 101.5 is reporting (on their news, not the personallities) that any layoffs will be the most recent hires. (sounds fair to me), but then they go on to say these recent hires are in the lowest positions (again sounds logical), these positions will be filled by managers and supervisors who will be demoted (sounds unfair to me, but I'll humor them) to fill these empty spots, and then they go on to say that this is not a good situation because many of the managers and supervisors aren't qualified to do the jobs of the people getting laid off (sounds ridiculous to me) How can a manager not be qualified to do the job of those he manages?!?!.
How can this be the case? Did I hear it wrong?!?!?

"Where ever you go, there you are." - Buckaroo Bonzai

by: William Weber (WjcW) @ Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 20:25:11 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

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Doctor's offices for one (0.00 / 0)

The office manager is the one who runs the place. S/he doesn't have the skills to be the doctor you see, but s/he has the skills to manage those people.

There are many other examples.

The problem with having these discussions at a statewide level is everyone believes there is a one-size fits all solution to how to manage/downsize state government. There isn't.

For example, if you lay off the manager who might be the person capable of reducing your workload from 30 people to 10, you save one large salary, but you have to pay 20 other salaries. So it's not clear who to lay off. In some situations, it should be the manager. In other situations, it should be the front-line worker.

But that's what you hire the upper-level managers (governor, consultants, cabinet officers) to decide.

-pb

by: princetonblue @ Mon Feb 18, 2008 at 20:17:44 PM UTC

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