Less state aid expected; Fried critical

by Vic Monaco, Managing Editor
   Not surprisingly, communities in the Messenger-Press area all will receive less state aid for 2009.
   Under Gov. Jon Corzine’s proposed budget, Robbinsville will be getting $36,625 less, as total state aid would drop from close to $1.69 million to $1.65 million. Mayor Dave Fried said he was “very disappointed” and lashed out at the state.
   ”It seems the state does not have the ability to manage its own finances,” he said. “Instead of making the tough decisions and cutting the budget or raising taxes themselves, they take the cowardly way out. They reduce aid to towns and make the towns make cuts or raise taxes. It is truly embarrassing to watch our leadership at work.”
   In Upper Freehold, total state aid is set to drop $27,883, from $706,900 to $679,017.
   Allentown is set to get $4,242 less, from $169,667 to $165,425.
   Millstone would get $32,606 less, from about $1.09 million to $1.06 million.
   And Plumsted is expecting $24,600 less, from $617,617, to $593,017.