January 26, 2009 - 2:29pm
Press Release

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Haines: Affordable Housing Rules Still an Unfunded Mandate

Senator Phil Haines (R-8) issued the following statement today in response to today's testimony from Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Joseph Doria:

"Officials from the Department of Community Affairs stated today that the new COAH regulations are not an unfunded mandate on local towns because the New Jersey State Constitution requires all municipalities to provide their fair share of affordable housing. However, the Constitution requires that municipalities only zone for affordable housing, not pay for it.

"I believe that the Medford Case that will be reviewed by the Council on Local Mandates to challenge the new COAH rules will show that these regulations are in fact an unfunded mandate and will impose a significant financial burden on municipalities and its taxpayers with no way of paying for it."

JOHN GORMAN can be reached via email at jgorman@njleg.org.