EDISON – Mayor Jun Choi, flanked by representatives of the Better Choices Budget Campaign, expressed his concerns over the impacts Gov. Jon Corzine’s budget proposals may have on the township.
The mayor spoke at the Edison Senior Citizens Center on June 5.
The governor’s most recent budget, which drastically cuts spending for many programs in the interest of controlling state debt, has drawn a great deal of controversy since specifics of the spending plan were made known several months ago. Some aspects of the plan, such as scrapping the state Department of Agriculture, have already been removed. Critics hope that, as the Legislature debates the proposal’s finer points, more concessions can be won.
Choi particularly singled out the governor’s plan to reduce aid to hospitals and municipalities and cut Medicaid funds, saying that such moves would only shift the burden to local municipalities. Under Corzine’s proposed budget, hospitals would lose $108 million in charity aid, municipalities would lose $190 million in aid and $90 million would be cut from Medicaid nursing-home funding and prescriptiondrug aid.
According to the mayor, Edison would lose nearly $1 million in municipal aid, which he said would lead to higher property taxes as the government tries tomake up the shortfall.
“This will inevitably lead to higher property taxes, and we already have property taxes that are unbearable,” said Choi.
The proposed cut in municipal aid prompted strong rebuke fromtowns across the state, all of them stating that state aid helps keep property taxes down.
Choi also noted that it is possible to save money without cutting services, saying that he, himself, has downsized a number of positions within the township government.
“I believe we’ve done this in a responsible manner,” said Choi.
Edison is also the home to JFKMedical Center, a local hospital that, should the current budget proposal pass unamended, will end up losing $2.1 million in aid. Choi said that the hospital is the township’s largest employer, as well as the first stop in emergencies. Cutting aid, he said, could have a deleterious effect on the township in many different respects.
“[This] is not only a direct threat to delivery of health care in our community but … people will [also] lose jobs,” said Choi.
The last item Choi addressed was the proposed cut inMedicaid funding and prescription drug assistance, saying that outof pocket drug costs could rise up to 40 percent, should the spending plan pass with no other changes, forcing seniors to make tough choices among food, rent or medicine.
“This is not the sign of respect they deserve. … We need to take a much harder look at where our priorities lie,” said Choi.
Elaborating further, Jean Ottersen, representing New Jersey Health Professionals and Allied Employees, which represents nurses and other health care workers, said she has seen firsthand the effects of budget cuts in hospitals and that they are not good. She noted that New Jersey hospitals spent $50 million for charity care last year, mostly on the uninsured, and that if this expense keeps rising, more hospitals will close. Investment in the health care system by the state, she said, will have the long-term effect of bringing costs down. If not, hospital closures will continue, with poor results.
“Patients are forced to go elsewhere … [resulting in] longer ambulance drives to hospitals straining at the seams,” said Ottersen.
Amy Goldsmith, state director for the New Jersey Environmental Federation, dovetailed on this point, saying that increasing investment in the environment can lower health costs overall, noting that many afflictions such as asthma and certain types of cancers can sometimes be the product of local pollution.
She also noted that the governor is proposing to close nine state parks, which she said hold important recreational uses for people who may not have a lot of money.
“We can’t count on private industry and private polluters to police themselves,” said Goldsmith, stressing the need for government oversight on environmental issues.
John Shure, with New Jersey Policy Perspective, admitted that the state is suffering from the aftereffects of irresponsible fiscal policies, especially excessive borrowing, but stressed that the governor’s current budget proposal is not the way to fix it.
“If you went to the doctor with a broken leg and he said he was going to treat you by taking out your appendix, you’d question his judgment,” said Shure, calling the proposed budget cuts “shortsighted.”
Judith Hanks, a lifelong Edison resident, wondered what the township was doing to help lower the tax burden, noting that she is on a fixed income.
“And all you do is keep raising taxes,” said Hanks.
Choi said that they were both on the same page, noting that one thing that can be done about local property taxes is fighting the cuts in state aid. The aid helps keep costs under control, he noted.
He also said that the schoolsmake up a rather large chunk of the tax bill as well.
“We are fighting for this issue… We’re saying, don’t cut municipal aid, don’t cut charity care, don’t cut environmental programs.… At the end of the day, this is your bill,” said Choi.
Afterward, Hanks said she wasn’t entirely satisfied with the answer she got, noting that seniors are moving out of Edison because of taxes. She wondered whether there could be some sort of tax freeze for senior citizens.