CORRECTION:Cleanup Day is September 27th

clerk@bethlehem-twp.org (Diane Pflugfelder) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 18:21:06 EDT

CORRECTION: Cleanup Day is September 27th 8:00am-2:00pm

This is a correction of the date shown in the last newsletter

For more information, contact:

Bethlehem Township
405 Mine Road
Asbury, NJ 08802
clerk@bethlehem-twp.org

Register to vote! Deadline October 18, 2008

clerk@bethlehem-twp.org (Diane Pflugfelder) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 18:19:26 EDT

Register to vote! Register to vote before the November election! Registration deadlineOctober 18, 2008 <a href="about:blank" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/countyclerk/absentee.htm">Absentee ballot request deadline October 28, 2008 </a>

For more information, contact:

Bethlehem Township
405 Mine Road
Asbury, NJ 08802
clerk@bethlehem-twp.org

Opposing State Police Fees for Rural Communities

clerk@bethlehem-twp.org (Diane Pflugfelder) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 18:16:58 EDT

ATTENTION TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS!!!

The NJ State Police have patrolled rural areas for the last 87 years. In fact, the law that created the agency cited rural patrols as their primary task. Facing a budget crunch, Governor Corzine proposed that the 89 rural municipalities that are served by the State Police pay a portion of that cost. Urban areas like Camden, Irvington, and Newark are patrolled but will not be charged under the new plan. Bethlehem Township residents will pay an additional 3 cents per $100 assessed value to cover this fee in 2009 alone! This fee could increase in future years!

The2008 State Budgethas already cut municipal aid. Bethlehem Townshipwas hit witha10% reduction. Governor Corzine believes that such cuts will encourage consolidations and shared services among small municipalities.

It is important that our elected officials are serving our needs. Voting is an important part of this process, but not the only one. You can email, call, and write to express your opinion.

The Township Committee can not do this alone - We need your support!

SAMPLE LETTERS TO THE GOVERNOR & STATE LEGISLATORS OPPOSING STATE POLICE FEES FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES AND ADDRESSES FOR ELECTED AND NON-ELECTED OFFICIALS are availablebelow:

SAMPLE LETTER

Dear XXXXXX

I am writing you to express my strong opposition to the State plans to charge rural communities for State Police coverage. These proposals completely contradict the States position to reduce property taxes. This proposal is estimated to increase my municipal property taxes by $0.03 cents per hundred. A State budget reduction is not property tax relief when the very appropriations that are cut are those intended to offset property taxes.

If the State financial experts cannot reduce the 30 billion dollar budget by twelve million dollars, then officials should consider increasing surcharges on fines resulting from the issuance of tickets by the State Police to raise new revenue to support State Police services in lieu of the Governors plan to require rural municipalities to increase local property taxes to pay for this service. The State Police issue need to be resolved through cutting State expenditures or increasing surcharges on fines instead of relying on regressive property taxes that impact those taxpayers that can least afford it.

Respectfully, XXXXXXX

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ADDRESSES

Governor Jon S. Corzine, State House, PO Box 001 Trenton, NJ 08625 0001 Telephone (609) 292-6000 <a href="http://www.state.nj.us/governor">www.state.nj.us/governor</a>

Senator Frank R. Lautenberg One Gateway Center, 23rd Floor Newark, NJ 07102 Telephone (973) 639-8700 <a href="http://www.lautenberg.senate.gov/">www.lautenberg.senate.gov</a>

Senator Robert Menendez One Gateway Center, Suite 1100 Newark, New Jersey 07102 Telephone (973) 645-3030 <a href="http://www.menendez.senate.gov/">www.menendez.senate.gov</a>

Representative Mike Ferguson 45 Mountain Boulevard, Bldg D, Suite 1 Warren, NJ 07059 Telephone (908) 757-7835 <a href="http://www.ferguson.house.gov/">www.ferguson.house.gov</a>

These are your elected state officials:

Senator Leonard Lance Twenty-Third Legislative District 119 Main Street Flemington, NJ 08822 Telephone (908) 788-6900 <a href="http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=71">www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=71</a>

Assemblyman Michael J Doherty Twenty-Third Legislative District 127 Belvidere Avenue Washington, NJ 07882 Telephone (908) 835-0552 <a href="http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=206">www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=206</a>

Assemblywoman Marcia A Karrow Twenty-Third Legislative District 1 Maple Avenue Flemington, NJ 08822 Telephone (908) 782-5127 <a href="http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=255">www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=255</a>

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We don't elect these officials, but it is CRITICAL that you contact them directly.

David Rousseau Treasurer, State of New Jersey PO Box 602 Trenton, NJ 08625 0002 Telephone: (609) 292-5031 <a href="http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/tohome.shtml">www.state.nj.us/treasury/tohome.shtml</a>

Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts Brooklawn Shopping Plaza Route 130 South & Browning Road Brooklawn, NJ 08030 Telephone: (856) 742-7600

Richard Codey, Senate President 449 Mt Pleasant Avenue West Orange, NJ 07052 Telephone: (973) 731-6770

These are your elected County Freeholders:

These are your elected County Freeholders:

The Honorable Matthew J. Holt The Honorable George B. Melick The Honorable William Mennan, Dep. Director The Honorable Erik C. Peterson, Director The Honorable Ron M. Sworen

PO Box 2900 Flemington, NJ 08822-2900 Telephone (908) 788-1102 <a href="http://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/frholder/frindex.htm">www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/frholder/frindex.htm</a>

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For more information, contact:

Bethlehem Township
405 Mine Road
Asbury, NJ 08802
clerk@bethlehem-twp.org

Bethlehem Township's News Feed

CORRECTION:Cleanup Day is September 27th

Register to vote! Deadline October 18, 2008

Opposing State Police Fees for Rural Communities