Gov. Phil Murphy speaks in Newark on Monday.
New Jersey officials have long championed that one way to slash the state’s sky-high property taxes is for towns to merge, share services like police and fire departments, and consolidate schools.
To that end, Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday announced the state is allocating $10 million in taxpayer money for grants to help municipalities study such mergers.
“As we lead our state towards the stronger and fairer economy that we hope to build together, it is our administration’s responsibility to provide these communities a platform from which to pursue efficient growth, achieve smart government, and provide relief to local taxpayers," Murphy, a Democrat, said in a statement.
The grants would go to local governments that show the best possible ideas on how sharing services can save taxpayers, help local governments implement shared service projects and study school consolidation, and have each county hire a young professional who would coordinate shared services under a fellowship.
“We must do everything we can to allow these communities to thrive without the burden of increased property taxes, and help our middle class families and retirees enjoy the benefits of the stronger and fairer New Jersey our administration has worked so hard to build,” said Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, who is also commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, which will administer the grants.
New Jersey has 565 municipalities even though it is the fifth smallest state by square mileage in the U.S. It also has the nation’s highest property taxes.
Last year, Murphy named Democrat Jordan Glatt, the former mayor of Summit, and Republican Nicholas Platt, the former mayor of Harding, as the state’s shared services czars. He tasked them with helping local governments find ways to consolidate and save.
State Senate President Stephen Sweeney has been pushing his own plans to share services and merge school districts. They’re part of his proposed “Path to Progress” legislation.
It’s unclear how much of Sweeney’s plan will become law. He often clashes with Murphy.
“It’s important that the administration move expeditiously to get funding out the door to school districts, municipalities and counties who are eager to move ahead,” Sweeney, D-Gloucester, said after Murphy’s announcement Wednesday.
