The governor’s proposal must clear the Legislature.
By: Linda Seida
Gov. Jon Corzine wants to bill towns like Stockton for state police patrols to raise $24 million toward closing a gap in the state budget.
Stockton has no police force of its own and relies on the state police for coverage that now is provided at no cost to borough residents.
The governor’s proposal must clear the Legislature. Former Gov. James McGreevey endorsed a similar proposal once, but it was shot down by the Legislature.
In the meantime, this new proposal from Gov. Corzine has local officials talking.
Stockton Mayor Gregg Rackin wants to hear more facts on the financial impact of the Democratic governor’s plan. He’s consulting freshman Republican Assemblywoman Marcia Karrow (R-23rd).
To assess the governor’s proposal, Mayor Rackin said he also is working with the New Jersey League of Municipalities and the New Jersey Conference of Mayors. Mayor Rackin was recently appointed to the conference’s board of directors.
"This proposal is in its preliminary stages, and we are not sure how or even if it will affect Stockton," Mayor Rackin said. "I’m not going to react to something I don’t understand. I don’t think that’s fair to any of the parties involved."
Borough Councilman Stephen Giocondo is just plain against the idea of having to pay for the services of the state police.
"I’m opposed to it at this point," he said. "The $24 million that Gov. Corzine proposes to save is really probably less than 1 percent of the proposed state budget increase of $2.88 billion."
Stockton consists of 0.6 square miles and has a population of about 560. With a budget of slightly more than a half million dollars, and not enough money to even fix all its roads without the help of government grants, Stockton couldn’t afford to make even a dent in the state’s shortfall.
"We don’t have a police department because we can’t afford it," Mr. Giocondo said. "I would presume if we were to have one, it would probably double our budget, to say the very least."
Officials are unsure of the formula that would be used to calculate the proposed reimbursement to the state, and Mayor Rackin said he’s consulting with Assemblywoman Karrow in hopes of clearing up the muddied proposal.
Assemblywoman Karrow did not return a phone call seeking comment.
The proposal outlined by the governor would seek payment for patrols from communities like Stockton, which pay less for property taxes than the county average. Others who pay more than the county average would not have to pay the state.

