Christie warns N.J. mayors state aid will be cut

TRENTON - New Jersey's path to success will not be easy, Gov. Christie told a group of about 150 mayors at the Statehouse today, but it is clear.

"The public is ready to hear that tough choices have to be made," the governor said in a 30-minute speech at the state League of Municipalities' 18th annual Mayor's Legislative Day.

"They're not going to like it, they're not going to be happy, but they want to hear the truth."

The governor said that while he would like state aid to municipalities to remain level in the upcoming year, it will not, because the state doesn't have the money.

"You need to prepare for what's coming down the line," he warned.

Christie is set to unveil his first budget on March 16. The state projects a budget gap of about $11 billion, out of a total budget of $29 billion.

The governor pledged to cut state spending and to work with the Legislature to give municipalities the tools they need to cut spending at the municipal level, saying he would work to address issues such as affordable housing, unnecessary and unfunded mandates and binding arbitration.

Christie also pointed to the public employees pension reform legislation, which was unanimously approved by the Senate on Monday, as "a good start."

Gary Passanante, now in his 15th year as mayor of Somerdale, said that while he agreed with Christie's words, he's heard much of the same from several administrations and is waiting to see the follow-through.

"I hear the lip service every year and it's all on the actions," Passanante said. "He certainly seems to have his finger on the pulse on the major issues."

Passanante, a Democrat, said he does sense a more cooperative, bipartisan atmosphere in Trenton, as evidenced by the unanimous vote on the pension reforms.

Based on the speech, Cherry Hill officials also expect "another significant reduction" in state aid, said town spokesman Dan Keashen.

Keashen said the town has received the second largest cut in municipal aid in the tri-county region over the last two years.

"We are already experiencing a drop in local revenue and a further reduction in aid will be detrimental to the upcoming budget year," Keashen said. "With that said, we will continue to cut costs and look for new savings through new efficiencies in all facets in the township's operations from energy usage to GPS systems in our municipal fleet."

In his speech, the governor argued that for too long, politicians in New Jersey have told residents what they wanted to hear.

"Government has worked for the political class for much too long," Christie said. "We have retreated to the easy decisions, the painless decisions that have delayed for another day the moment of reckoning."

Now, he said, "There's no time left. We have no room left to borrow. We have no room left to tax."