rap #119 06/25/09
OCEAN COUNTY LOOKS FOR ITS FAIR SHARE; FREEHOLDERS INVITE TRENTON OFFICIALS TO HELP SOLVE FUNDING INEQUITIES
THE STATE needs to work hand-in-hand with Ocean County to ensure that local residents receive their fair share
of aid money from both Washington D.C. and Trenton, Ocean County’s Freeholders said.
“Ocean County is getting shortchanged,” said Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari. “No matter how you look at many of the
funding formulas that determine our aid level, we lose.”
He pointed to the recent loss of $600,000 in federal workforce stimulus money that had been earmarked for youth
summer employment. The county also lost $105,000 in state aid for respite care that would have helped 45 residents who
are elderly and disabled stay out of nursing homes and instead receive care in their own homes.
Vicari said the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders will continue to fight for its residents, and he called
on state leaders to join the crusade.
“Instead of criticizing us in the press, the Corzine Administration should be helping us serve the residents of
Ocean County,” Vicari said.
Vicari referred to a recent Asbury Park Press article in which state Labor Commissioner David J. Socolow claimed
the Freeholders’ comments about the loss of the stimulus money were “ill-tempered and “ill-founded.”
“The Corzine administration says they had nothing to do with the stimulus cut. I suggest that instead of
chastising us for standing up for our residents, they instead work with the Freeholders to ensure that Ocean County
receives all the aid that our citizens deserve,” Vicari said.
Freeholder Deputy Director Gerry P. Little also invited state officials to join the county’s fight for
equitable funding.
“Ocean County is unique,” Little said. “We have the most residents age 75 or older in the state of New Jersey. We also
have the state’s largest veteran population. These are just two groups that heavily depend on state and federal dollars
to improve their quality of life.”
Little said that all levels of government - local, county, state and federal – have the same goals of providing for
its citizens.
“Work with us to fight for fair funding for Ocean County,” Little said of Trenton officials. “Our county needs a fair
share to help meet the needs of our unemployed workers and youths.”
Vicari said the funding bias against Ocean County is nothing new.
“Every year we see it in the aid our schools receive,” he said. “More and more money is funneled to urban schools,
while our local taxpayers are left to pay for more and more of the local school bill.”
