Jim Curcio

"It is simply preposterous to say that Camden County has a tighter or better budget process than Atlantic County considering their tax rate is more than double our tax rate and they are carrying $880 million in debt," said Freeholder Board Chairman Jim Curcio "And just last week, we heard the news that Camden County has the highest property taxes in the entire state and 11th in the nation."

The three candidates for Atlantic County Freeholder, Freeholders Jim Curcio and Frank Giordano and Freeholder Candidate Frank Formica, today called on their opponents to start debating the important issues in this campaign by first explaining how they can run with a candidate for Governor who has cut property tax rebates, cut municipal aid in Atlantic County and caused local property taxes to go up.

Freeholder Chairman Jim Curcio today announced the additions and renovations to the Atlantic County Institute of Technology have come in nearly $250,000 under budget.

“This should be yet another wake up call to voters in Atlantic County about the failed leadership of the Corzine Democrats in Trenton,” said Formica. “On their watch the budget situation has become so desperate, that New Jersey cannot afford to keep its lights on and must deplete the Clean Energy Fund to be able to pay the utility bills. I find this unconscionable.”

“The passage of the Jessica Lunsford Act will send a clear message that the citizens of New Jersey are serious about protecting our children and keeping child predators off the streets,” said District 2 Freeholder Candidate Frank Formica. “Atlantic County Freeholders have a solemn responsibility in ensuring the safety of our communities for our neighbors, family and friends.”

Earlier this month the Republican controlled Freeholder Board took decisive action to stimulate job creation in Atlantic County by appropriating more than $1 million toward a comprehensive career and workforce development agenda. This plan is intended to provide workers with intensive support services and skills necessary to obtain and retain employment despite Atlantic County’s stagnant 11.8% unemployment rate as reported for the month of July.

“We need a Governor who understands the urgency of the situation here in Atlantic City and the importance of ensuring honest and clean elections,” said Freeholder At-Large Frank Giordano. “By putting Craig Callaway behind bars Chris Christie has already done more to ensure free and fair elections in Atlantic County than Corzine and the Democrats have during their tenure in Trenton.”

“Jon Corzine’s record as Governor is clear: higher taxes, record spending, skyrocketing debt, and failed economic policies.”

Curcio and Giordano pointed out that almost 98% of the emergency hospital funds have been allocated to medical centers in just five North Jersey cities which happen to be overwhelmingly Democratic and political strongholds for Corzine, who plans to run for reelection in 2009.

COUNTY EXEC LEVINSON CITES FREEHOLDERS' TAX CUTTING RECORD AND FISCAL RESTRAINT