Bob Smith

SMITH - IMPORTANT FIRST STEP TAKEN ON CONSOLIDATION PROPOSALS

TRENTON - Senator Bob Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, co-Chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services, issued the following statement today on the panel's public hearing on specific legislation crafted from the Committee's recommendations:

"Today's hearing demonstrated that, while we received some pushback on different consolidation and shared services proposals from special interests, the major players are willing to come to the table and recognize the need to stabilize property taxes by cutting the costs of government in New Jersey.

SMITH BILL TO INCLUDE PUBLIC VOICE IN BEACH REPLENISHMENT APPROVED

TRENTON - A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to hold a public hearing and allow for public comment on shore protection projects was approved today by the Senate by a vote of 39-0.

"This past summer, the Senate Environment Committee held a public hearing on beach replenishment in Toms River, and we were able to learn a lot by taking the hearing to the people of the Jersey Shore," said Senator Smith, the Chair of the Environment panel. "Those who testified let us know that, other than our hearing, they were never given a chance to have public input on shore protection projects, even when those projects were taking place in their own back yards. As a matter of fundamental fairness, we need to give property owners and beach advocates the chance to let their voices be heard before we begin major shore protection projects."

SMITH - 'TOUGH WORK CAN NOW BEGIN ON SHARED SERVICES'

TRENTON - Senator Bob Smith, co-Chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services, issued the following statement today on the unanimous approval of the Committee's final report of recommendations at a meeting of the panel today:

"Today, after 13 meetings, exhaustive research and hours of public and expert testimony, the Consolidation and Shared Services Joint Committee has unanimously approved our final report.

GORDON APPLAUDS RECOMMENDATIONS OF SHARED SERVICES COMMITTEE

(TRENTON) -- Assemblyman Bob Gordon, a member of the Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services, today praised the recommendations included in the panel's report, lauding the advancement of reforms aimed at stabilizing property taxes and increasing efficiency at every level of government.

SHARED SERVICES PANEL CO-CHAIRS ANNOUNCE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF

TRENTON - Senator Bob Smith and Assemblyman John Wisniewski, the co-chairs of the Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services, presented their report today to Legislative leaders, with recommendations to stabilize property taxes and increase efficiency in government on every level in New Jersey.

"The last few months have been tough, as we've tried to come to terms with the governmental bureaucracy that has increased the cost of living in the Garden State," said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset. "I believe the recommendations we are presenting today will ensure the high level of service that New Jersey residents have grown accustomed to, while pushing for more efficient delivery of those services."

"These recommendations will put downward pressure on property taxes by attacking excess government bureaucracy, waste and inefficiency," said Wisniewski (D-Middlesex). "These reform proposals constitute a long-term game plan to improve accountability, transparency and the delivery of government services in this state."

SMITH - 'ADMINISTRATIVE SCHOOL SAVINGS ARE RIPE FOR THE PICKING'

Property Tax Co-Chair Says New Jersey Could Realize Savings up to $400 million

TRENTON - Senator Bob Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, the co-chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services, issued the following statement after today's hearing on consolidating school districts into county-based administrative districts:

"The reactions we received at today's committee hearing on school consolidation proposals were wholly expected. We knew there would be pushback from school officials whose continued employment relies on what we do to reign in property taxes. But, that doesn't change the fact that we have to do something, and consolidating our schools into county-based administrative districts could provide significant savings to taxpayers.

SMITH - 'CORE' PLAN FITS IN WITH COMMITTEE PROPOSALS

Speaker's Property Tax Solutions a Vital Part of Real Results

TRENTON - Senator Bob Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, the co-Chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services, issued the following statement regarding today's hearing on Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts' "CORE" reform package to encourage government consolidation:

"The Speaker's 'CORE' plan for property tax savings is an invaluable part of real, sustained reform, and fits in nicely with the proposals already talked about in this Committee, including Senator Kyrillos' municipal merger commission, and my effort to consolidate school administrative functions.

SMITH - NEXT WEEK'S HEARINGS TO FOCUS ON SHARED SERVICE PROPOSALS

Committee Will Begin Hearing Responses to Property Tax Solutions

TRENTON - Senator Bob Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, the co-chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services, issued the following statement today regarding next week's committee hearing, in which the panel will ask for input on specific shared service proposals:

"Next week's committee meeting will signal a change of focus, as we shift gears from looking at shared services and government consolidation with an academic eye to a pragmatic one. We will begin discussing specific shared services proposals, and we will look for input from the local officials who will have to live with what we do to promote efficient government.

SMITH: STATE NEEDS TO BUILD ON SHARING SUCCESS IN INSURANCE, HEALTH CARE

TRENTON - Senator Bob Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, co-Chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services, issued the following statement today regarding the Committee's hearing on the successes many New Jersey communities are achieving through joint insurance funds and healthcare pools:

"We heard today that New Jersey is achieving great success in centralizing the administration of health and liability insurance funds. As we continue to explore every option to bring relief to State taxpayers, we should see if we can build on the successes in these two areas to promote shared services across the board.

SMITH - 'MARYLAND COUNTY-BASED SCHOOLS COULD WORK IN NEW JERSEY'

TRENTON - Senator Bob Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, co-Chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services, issued the following statement today regarding testimony provided to the panel about Maryland's county-based school system:

"As we explore every possibility to save taxpayer dollars, we should give very serious consideration to a county-based school system modeled after the one that is seeing great success in Maryland.