Politics & Government

Acropolis Will Talk State Aid, Spending Reforms Before Assembly Committee

Mayor invited to participate in roundtable discussion on property tax reform

When Brick Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis addresses the New Jersey Assembly Budget Committee on Tuesday morning, he’ll tell those gathered for a roundtable discussion on property taxes that state legislators should make the passage of a number of reform measures – including a so-called "tool kit" of reforms proposed by Gov. Chris Christie – their top priority this year. 

“Everybody knows changes need to be made,” Acropolis told Brick Patch. “I think that we really have to get past the political theater in Trenton and get down to some solutions.”

The committee meeting and roundtable discussion will take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Acropolis said he was invited by members of the committee, including Monmouth County Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon, and will use his own vacation time to attend the event.

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On the mayor’s agenda for discussion: increasing school aid to suburban districts such as Brick; the responsibility of municipalities to pay more into state pension funds while the state defers its own payment obligations; and allowing municipalities such as Brick to better handle state mandates that cost local taxpayer dollars.

Council President Brian DeLuca said he agreed with the the issues the mayor chose to address, and that increasing state aid to suburban municipalities should be a priority.

Find out what's happening in Brickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I think what the state needs to do is to send back the revenues that we've been sending to them all these years," DeLuca said. "They give us back so little."

"We teach our children for a little over $11,000 per student, and then you have Asbury Park where it's over $30,000," said DeLuca.

According to figures from the state, Brick received about 66 cents back in state school aid for each dollar its residents sent to Trenton by way of income taxes during the 2010-11 school year. In comparison, Asbury Park received $22.67 for each dollar its taxpayers sent.

For Acropolis, the chance to address the committee and participate in the discussion is a good first step in improving the relationship between municipal officials and members of the Legislature.

“Mayors and councils are the people that have to answer to taxpayers on a daily basis,” Acropolis said. “The decisions being made in Trenton are impacting our budgets and our taxpayers and it is us that is having to answer to citizens.”

Brick residents who want to see Acropolis address the committee can log on to www.njleg.state.nj.us and click on ‘Live proceedings.’  The roundtable discussion is scheduled to start at 10 a.m.


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