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It’s no surprise that the New Jersey comes with some of the highest taxes in the nation. But how high exactly when compared to the rest of the nation?New Jersey residents have the third highest tax burden in the U.S., according to the Tax Foundation’s State-Local Tax Burden Rankings report released Thursday.
In 2012 — the most recent data the foundation has available — 12.2 percent of New Jerseyan’s income goes directly to state and local taxes. That means for an average taxpayer income of $56,731, that person is shelling out $6,926 a year.
The only states with a worse tax burden are Connecticut, ranked at No. 2 with 12.6 percent of state income, and New York, ranked No. 1 with 12.7 percent. According to the foundation, there are only three states where taxpayers give up over 12 percent of their income to state and local taxes. The next highest burden, in Wisconsin, is 11 percent of state income.
However, it may not be all bad.
The foundation attributes New Jersey taxpayers being in the Top 3 due to high expenditure levels, which are sustained by high levels of revenue. This is likely because New Jersey is a high-income state where residents experience high levels of capital gains.
Here are the states with the highest state-local tax burdens in fiscal 2012:
1. New York (12.7 percent)
2. Connecticut (12.6 percent)
3. New Jersey (12.2 percent)
4. Wisconsin (11 percent)
5. Illinois (11 percent)
And the lowest:
50. Alaska (6.5 percent)
49. South Dakota (7.1 percent)
48. Wyoming (7.1 percent)
47. Tennessee (7.3 percent)
46. Texas (7.6 percent)
Tag: South Jersey
NJBIZ stories taking place in and involving South Jersey businesses, companies and business news.
Philly Fed finds manufacturing activity declined this month
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia reported Thursday that manufacturing activity declined in January in the region that includes South Jersey.The Fed reported in its Monthly Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey that the general activity index remaining negative, however it did rebound from a lower reading in December.
There was some mixed signals in the other indicators, although most were still in the negative. The index for current new orders fell, but shipments increased this month.
When it comes to the labor market, the news isn’t great, as indicators for employment were generally weaker in the survey. The future employment index fell this month, which is the lowest reading since November 2012.
The current prices index fell slightly, as more firms reported lower prices than higher ones; most firms reported no change. The prices paid for input increased even with the index recording seven consecutive negative readings.
Finally, the index of future activity slipped to its lowest rating since November 2012.
Atlantic City bankruptcy ‘worst possible outcome,’ Sweeney says
Both Senate President Steve Sweeney and Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian were disappointed to learn of Gov. Chris Christie’s pocket vetoes Tuesday on a package of bills aimed at assisting the city in its economic recovery efforts.The package, which included a bill that would allow casinos to make payments in lieu of taxes in order to help pay down the city’s debt, was conditionally vetoed back in November after it sat dormant on Christie’s desk for over four months.
Though the Legislature approved Christie’s changes and sent the bills back to him earlier this month, the governor declined to take action, allowing them to die.
Following a report issued last week by Atlantic City’s Christie-appointed emergency manager that warned of the city running out of funds by April on its current course, Guardian now says that Christie’s vetoes have pushed the city closer to declaring bankruptcy.
In a statement Wednesday, Sweeney (D-West Deptford), who has proposed a state takeover of Atlantic City, said that state intervention is the “best way to bring the city’s finances under control.”
“Now, the mayor finally recognizes the severity of city’s problems, but his plan to declare bankruptcy is the worst possible outcome for Atlantic City and for the state of New Jersey,” Sweeney said. “He obviously doesn’t realize that he doesn’t have the authority to unilaterally declare bankruptcy because only the state is vested with that power. He also fails to understand that putting the city into bankruptcy would have disastrous results for the city and could jeopardize the financial standing of other cities in New Jersey, resulting in credit downgrades and higher costs. Bankruptcy could also have a terrible impact on local schools, undermining the ability to educate schoolchildren.”
“Clearly, Atlantic City has lost the ability to help itself,” Sweeney added. “The mayor’s talk of bankruptcy will only make conditions worse.”
Guardian, who is opposed to the idea of a state takeover, was in Trenton on Wednesday to meet with Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-Secaucus), who also criticized Christie’s vetoing of the recovery legislation.
Christie spokesman Kevin Roberts defended the governor’s actions Wednesday afternoon.
“The Governor did not sign the PILOT legislation for one simple reason: Atlantic City government has been given over five years and two city administrations to deal with its structural budget issues and excessive spending. It has not,” Roberts said. “The governor is not going to ask the taxpayers to continue to be enablers in this waste and abuse. The speaker is well aware of these facts, as the governor has discussed it with him repeatedly. There is no mystery. It’s that simple.”
Court backs Trump Entertainment in fight with union, meaning Icahn could take over Taj
A federal appeals court has paved the way for billionaire investor Carl Icahn to take control of Atlantic City’s ailing Trump Taj Mahal, siding with the casino’s ownership group after its union challenged the operator’s ability to complete its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.The union, UNITE Here Local 54, had sought to block the proceedings after Trump Entertainment Resorts tried to move forward with a scaled-back version of a collective bargaining agreement that expired in September 2014. But on Friday, the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia upheld a federal bankruptcy judge’s earlier decision that ruled in favor of the operator.
“Rejection of the Debtors’ continuing labor obligations, as defined by the expired CBA, is necessary to permit the Debtors’ reorganization — indeed it is essential to the Debtors’ survival,” the three-judge panel wrote. “As the Bankruptcy Court repeatedly emphasized, the Debtors’ financial situation is desperate. Not only are their losses large, but they have been unable to obtain debtor in possession financing for their bankruptcy cases and are operating with cash collateral.”
Trump Entertainment’s ability to move forward could mean Icahn is poised to invest $100 million to reinvigorate the struggling gaming hall. According to the court filings, the reorganization plan calls for Icahn, the first lien-holder for the property, to convert the debt to an equity stake and then provide such a capital infusion to the Taj.
The dispute stems from the health and pension benefits offered by the Taj Mahal to its employees under a contract that expired in mid-September 2014. When the casinos owners and the union could not reach a new agreement with days before the expiration date, Trump Entertainment Resorts filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Negotiations continued, and the Taj has teetered on being the fifth Atlantic City to close since 2014. But the company then rejected a subsequent proposal by UNITE Here in order to move forward with its reorganization, instead proposing a plan that would save nearly $15 million annually in retirement, health and other benefits.
The move was approved by a federal bankruptcy court, but the union responded by appealing to the federal appeals court.
In its decision last week, the appeals court concluded that, “Under the policies of bankruptcy law, it is preferable to preserve jobs through a rejection of a CBA, as opposed to losing the positions permanently by requiring the debtor to comply with the continuing obligations set out by the CBA.”
“Moreover, it is essential that the Bankruptcy Court be afforded the opportunity to evaluate those conditions that can detrimentally affect the life of a debtor, whether such encumbrances attach by operation of contract or a complex statutory framework. In light of Chapter 11’s overarching purposes and the exigencies that the Debtors faced, we conclude that the Bankruptcy Court did not err in granting the Debtors’ motion.”
Student program helps NAIOP build a bridge to real estate industry’s future
Joe Zagari wasn’t necessarily looking to network, much less find an internship in commercial real estate.But the Rutgers University graduate student would accomplish both after accepting the invitation of classmate Mark Russo, NAIOP New Jersey’s education coordinator, to attend one of the organization’s events in 2012. Zagari, then a student at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, was preparing to hear Dean James Hughes speak when he sat down next to Mark Goldstein.
“I didn’t know who he was at the time, but we struck up a conversation,” Zagari said of Goldstein, who is vice president and city manager for Liberty Property Trust. “He introduced himself and said who he was and what did, and after the presentation he offhandedly said, ‘Send me your resume — here’s my card. If you’re interested in an internship, I might have something for you.’ ”
It’s the type of experience touted by NAIOP New Jersey, the commercial real estate development association, in highlighting its Student Members program. For Zagari, who soon joined the chapter as a student, it laid the groundwork for his internship at Liberty Property’s Mount Laurel office and then his career — today, he is a project manager in Avison Young’s Morristown office.
For NAIOP, it’s a chance to cultivate the industry’s future leaders.
“We’re just trying to connect with the younger population as they’re going through college to let them know they do have career opportunities with the commercial real estate industry,” said Michael McGuiness, CEO and president of NAIOP New Jersey. “NAIOP is a great place to gain some exposure and make a name for themselves. … You just never know where the next job is going to come from.”
Student members in the 2014-2015 year paid $50 in annual dues for all the benefits of membership, from networking and registration to events, to the organization’s research and newsletters. The program centers largely on the graduate level and is available to full-time students not otherwise employed in the commercial real estate.
To help recruit for the program, NAIOP executives and members visit colleges throughout the year. McGuinness said that, knowing the schedule of a students, “we try to impress on them the value and the importance of being part of NAIOP and having access to all of the resources that we offer to members.”
Those resources include NAIOP events, such as the seminar on port commerce that led Portia Henry seek an internship with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in 2012. And Henry, who was also a grad student at the Bloustein school, said the relationships between the authority and NAIOP New Jersey helped her get a volunteer role at an even bigger event — NAIOP’s I.con industrial conference.
“The visibility alone was an invaluable benefit and experience, which quickly accustomed me to networking and interacting with executives and policy makers,” said Henry, now an executive policy analyst in the chairman’s office of the authority. “It also was a great way to meet other student members with like-minded interests.”
Zagari, meantime, is now a NAIOP member as a professional and continues to reap many of the same benefits he did as a student: information and the opportunity to network, volunteer and listen to key thought leaders in the industry. All that helps in his role as a project manager with Avison Young, with a specialty in industrial buildings.
“Just getting to the events and hearing some of the speakers speak, I think, is the easiest way to stay up to date on some of the contemporary information affecting the real estate market,” Zagari said. “It gives you kind of a tool belt of talking points when you’re out with clients and vendors to pull from.”
He added: “That information is still pretty valuable. And when your client asks you which consultant or which vendor they should hire … it’s nice to know that you have a Rolodex on your Outlook that you can pull from.”
And for NAIOP volunteer leadership and members, having a link to younger members simply helps them do their day jobs.
“Much of what we’re doing today, what we’re building and where we’re developing — it’s all to address today’s users,” McGuinness said. “And who are those users today? They’re smaller companies, they’re younger companies, they’re younger people, they’ve got different preferences. You’ve got to attract users. Without users there’s no need to build anything or develop anything.
“People are going to be leasing space or buying property, so it’s all about being in touch with what’s happening out there.”
Open space Virtua hopes new setup will change relationship with its patients
You’ve seen an examination room, a consult room and an imaging room.
What if all three were in the same line of sight?
Virtua Health’s new open-space design at its Medford center is allowing doctors and specialists to work in the same office space — rather than in independent office areas — allowing easy access to an exam room and consult area.
Call it modern workplace layout meeting modern medicine.
“When my team came to me with the concept for this center, it was clear that this could be a new path for the future,” said Richard Miller, CEO and president of Virtua. “This complex was designed with very unique features to improve the experience of patients and their families.”
The center began operating in December.
Among the newest gadgets are the three patient check-in kiosks, which look like the ones you use to pick up movie tickets at a theater. The kiosks allow IDs to be scanned, and patients can move into whichever sub-area waiting room they need to.
Primary care, cardiology care services and urgent care are included at the center, with plans to add other specialties in a timeshare fashion throughout the week.
“In the ‘team pod,’ caregivers and physicians can interact at the heart of the practice, where there is a full line of sight to all exam rooms so clinicians are close to patient activity and fully aware when they are needed,” Virtua said in a prepared statement.
Also near the exam rooms are secondary waiting rooms to allow family members to be closer during the process.
The room was designed by Martin Valins, the principal architect and planning director of The Tono Group. He said Virtua wanted to improve patient experience, have a forward-thinking approach and offer a sustainable and affordable space.
Diane Hinkle, vice president of operations at Virtua Medical Group, said it’s a design that Virtua feels should be replicated.
“We would love to use this in our future projects,” she said. “If we look to develop another medical center, we would love to use this concept.”
Valins said it aims to change the habits of the care providers.
“You are trying to build a bridge to the future while crossing it at the same time,” he said.
The design, he said, is a new approach to the traditional medical space, which often keeps doctors locked away in their offices.
“Normally you would see a doctor (who) … at the end of the day would retract to their office,” Valins said. “Rather than be in their office on their own, they now have an open space” to encourage increased collaborations and interactions.
“It’s not that they weren’t doing that before, but now they have the space for it.”
Valins said the design should have had zero impact on the cost, compared with a traditional medical office layout.
Hinkle said the changes and new technology are important investments.
“So many factors go into what is a good investment. Anything improving clinical quality and safety, we will put our efforts into that,” Hinkle said. “The whole thing is about patient loyalty.”
Even if it means embracing changes as the patient’s habits change.
“If we put in a kiosk, and if more patients use it, we can downsize or shift staffing to another initiative,” Hinkle said. “It becomes a tradeoff.”
Valins agreed, adding that changing habits won’t take place overnight, but the impact of this new design will be felt by both patients and providers.
E-mail to: [email protected]
On Twitter: @anjkhem
NJBIA’s Siekerka addresses outward migration affecting N.J.
If you were caught in construction traffic on I-78 and I-287 Friday morning, you may have had to walk the extent of the parking lot at The Palace at Somerset Park.That’s because the speakers at the Economic Leadership Forum, hosted by New Jersey Bankers Association, were playing to a packed house.
The speakers, including William Dudley, Federal Reserve Bank of New York vice chairman, spent most of their time looking forward to the coming years, though still finding it difficult to escape the shadow of the 2008 financial crisis.
Michele Siekerka, president of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association, focused on an immediate issue currently affecting the state of New Jersey, despite recent polls showing an optimistic outlook for 2016 among the association’s members.
That looming issue is outward migration and, according to Siekerka, it has a tremendous economic impact on the state.
“In the last decade, this is what we lost in the state of New Jersey: Over 2 million people but, most important, $18 billion net adjusted income (went) out of state,” Siekerka said. “Think about the challenges we have in the general funds of the state of New Jersey (and) the loss of that income means we weren’t able to tax that income.”
This is based on data provided by the Internal Revenue Service covering the last decade.
While the state loses many college age students who leave the state to pursue their education, an issue Siekerka suggested was addressed by the Building Our Future Bond Act of 2012, there’s another phenomenon among retirees that is taking citizens, and tax revenue, from New Jersey.
It’s called, “Six months and a day.”
“If you’re outside the state of New Jersey for six months and a day, you’re not deemed a New Jersey resident,” Siekerka said. “As a result of that, we don’t tax you the way we do New Jersey residents.”
The phenomenon suggests that, where retirees would spend only the dead of winter at second homes in southern states such as Florida, more often this demographic is staying longer to shift residency.
Siekerka suggested this was mainly to escape the state’s high estate tax.
“This has a dramatic impact on all of us, so we know we need dramatic change and it is time now to start taking on some of this systemic change that we need,” she said. “And the way we can do that is sending some very clear signals very quickly about relief on things like estate tax.
“And you’ll hear NJBIA being out ahead of that in the year to come.”
Senate panel approves updated North Jersey casino bill
The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee voted Thursday to advance the latest bill seeking a voter referendum on the expansion of casino gaming beyond Atlantic City.The legislation is the result of a deal brokered earlier this week by Gov. Chris Christie between Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford) and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-Secaucus), who each had previously sponsored competing bills.
The bill advanced Thursday is nearly identical to Sweeney’s previous measure, with the addition of a guaranteed $1 billion capital investment for each project, ensuring that any new casino will be constructed as a resort-style destination rather than so-called “slots in a box.”
Sweeney and state Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) are co-sponsors on the latest bill.
“This will give New Jersey the opportunity to expand the state’s gaming market in ways that will benefit the entire state,” Sweeney said. “It will provide substantial investments that will create jobs and fuel economic opportunity in North Jersey, generate resources to aid senior citizens and the disabled and raise funds to support the revitalization of the Atlantic City region.”
A three-fifths legislative majority will be required by August in order to place the question on this November’s ballot.
“We must recapture the finite amount of gaming that is currently leaving the state and make our casino industry competitive,” Sarlo said. “It’s not only about regaining the gaming industry in New Jersey, it is also about the $4 billion in new investment in North Jersey and the $3 billion for Atlantic City that will go to private sector construction and economic growth over the next 15 years.”
Other features of the bill include:
- Two new gaming permits will be granted. Both will go to planned casinos at least 72 miles from Atlantic City, though it was widely understood that both will go to counties in northern New Jersey;
- The permits must go to two different counties (Hudson, Bergen and Essex all have expressed interest);
- Only those currently holding a license to operate in New Jersey will be eligible to apply for one of the new permits (they must be majority owners of the new casinos);
- Prospective permit holders will have to commit to a mandatory $1 billion minimum capital investment;
- During the first 15 years of operation, 49 percent of the public revenue generated by the two new casinos would be pumped back into Atlantic City to assist the city in its economic recovery.
Lawmakers from the Atlantic City area have criticized plans calling for the city to lose its intrastate monopoly on casino gaming.
“This might be a new plan to expand casino gaming, but it still stinks,” said state Sen. Jim Whelan (D-Northfield). “No one has been able to explain to me how successful North Jersey casinos will be when, not if, New York City gets gaming. When that happens, casinos in both Atlantic City and North Jersey would close, further exacerbating Atlantic City’s and New Jersey’s sluggish economy.”
“Today’s understudied and underwhelming proposal to expand casino gaming to North Jersey is no different than the previous ones offered — it puts thousands of Atlantic County middle-class residents out of work,” added Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo (D-Northfield). “Don’t just take my word for it, yesterday Moody’s Investors Service warned that ‘…the additional competition will likely cause more casinos to close, which would be credit negative for Atlantic City.’”
The bill now awaits full Senate consideration.
Catapult Learning promotes CFO to president
Camden-based Catapult Learning Inc. announced Wednesday that it has promoted Andrea Vargas to president of the company’s schools division, effective immediately.Vargas was most recently corporate chief financial officer at Camden-based Catapult. In her new role, she will be responsible for the growth and development of the K-12 instructional services provider’s alternative education, dropout recovery and special education programs.
“We are thrilled to have Andrea assume the role of president of our schools division,” Jeffrey Cohen, Catapult Learning’s CEO, said in a prepared statement. “She is an operations-focused leader with a passion for our mission and values. As we expand our alternative education, dropout recovery and special education programs throughout the country, I am confident that Andrea will stay focused on generating excellent student outcomes and strengthening the relationships we have with our school district partners.”
Prior to Catapult, Vargas held several leadership roles with SESI, including controller, chief accounting officer and vice president of finance. Prior to that, she worked in various financial and accounting positions at large companies, including United Technologies.
“Supporting the Schools Group team in its efforts to grow our business and expand our reach has been a privilege as CFO, but to lead this charge as president is a considerable honor,” Vargas said in a prepared statement. “I believe that providing our students with the highest quality services is the best way to generate opportunities for all those involved in our programs, and I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to take this amazing organization into the future.”
Update N.J. Supreme Court backs Cooper in Camden EMS battle
The state Supreme Court upheld a law by ruling in favor of the state of New Jersey, thereby allowing Cooper Health System to provide emergency medical services in the city of Camden.(Editor’s note: This report was updated at 7:30 p.m. with comments from Virtua Health and Mark Manigan of Brach Eichler, and at 10:45 a.m. Wednesday with comments from Cooper Health System and additional information.)
The state Supreme Court upheld a law by ruling in favor of the state of New Jersey, thereby allowing Cooper Health System to provide emergency medical services in the city of Camden.
A legal battle has been unfolding between the decades-long provider of the city’s EMS services, Virtua Health, and Cooper since the bill responsible for the change was signed into law last summer.
Since then, Virtua filed to prevent the law from being enacted in January, and saw momentary success in the Mercer County Superior Court.
Judge Douglas Hurd sided with Virtua, which stated in a complaint that the law was in fact “special legislation” meant to favor Cooper — whose board includes South Jersey power broker George Norcross.
In December, the appellate division granted a stay of Hurd’s order, reverting to the takeover by Cooper.
Cooper had been preparing for the Jan. 2 change in services and hired 21 paramedics and 32 emergency medical technicians, according to court documents.
“With the addition of new, state-of-the-art equipment and vehicles, we have been improving response times and service,” Cooper said.
The $2.5 million approved in the state budget that was allotted to Cooper for providing the EMS services helped in purchasing 15 new vehicles, according to Cooper’s spokeswoman, Wendy Marano.
When asked why the additional taxpayer money was required to fund the services that Cooper wanted, Marano declined to address the point.
In addition to Cooper’s preparations, University Hospital in Newark, which had been providing some EMS services in Camden, had dismantled its satellite site and sent out termination notices to its 37 employees.
The new order, upholding the law, was issued by Justice Stuart Rabner on Tuesday.
“We are disappointed that the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled today to uphold the stay granted by the Appellate Division of the state Superior Court. Although the decision will allow a controversial law to remain in effect pending the state’s appeal, Virtua paramedics are proud to continue to provide experienced, award-winning and high quality EMS services for the people in the 76 municipalities we currently serve in Camden and Burlington counties,” Virtua said in a statement.
“We agree with the Dec. 22, 2015, decision of Superior Court Judge Hurd that the controversial New Jersey act changing how emergency medical services were to be provided under the act was unconstitutional special legislation. Virtua, along with Capital Health System Inc., look forward to making our case during the appeal process to uphold Judge Hurd’s ruling. Virtua paramedics will also be ready to resume providing Advanced Life Support services for the City of Camden should we be granted the opportunity.”
Cooper answered with a statement of its own:
“Yesterday’s ruling is one more step in the legal process, which validates the New Jersey Legislature’s overwhelmingly bipartisan vote last year to grant Cooper University Hospital the opportunity to provide both Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support services in the city of Camden,” Cooper said. “While this process continues, Cooper will remain focused on providing the highest level of emergency care, which the people in Camden truly deserve.”
Mark Manigan, an attorney with Brach Eichler who is not affiliated with the case, said the case appears to be a clear win for Cooper. But, he added, there is still a legal route for Virtua pending before the appellate courts.
Legislators propose state takeover of Atlantic City
Senate President Steve Sweeney, state Sen. Paul Sarlo and state Sen. Kevin O’Toole announced their plans Tuesday to put forth a bipartisan bill calling for a state takeover of Atlantic City’s finances.“Taxpayers from Bergen County to Cape May have sent hundreds of millions of dollars to Atlantic City in recent years, and this fiscal reform will ensure that their elected representatives can be watchful stewards of their past, present and future investments,” said O’Toole (R-Wayne). “This is the pathway to create an efficient, accountable and transparent Atlantic City government. It will expedite the city’s evolution into a new prime-time destination for people on the East Coast and beyond with diverse options for jobs, tourism and entertainment.”
Though details of the plan were not immediately available, as the bill has not yet been formally introduced, Sweeney (D-West Deptford) noted that the city’s budget is unsustainable and unacceptable given its current population size.
“If the Legislature doesn’t act on this in the immediate future, I will support a declaration of bankruptcy for Atlantic City,” said Sweeney. “We have to do what needs to be done to bring financial stability and responsibility to the city.”
The Press of Atlantic City, which obtained a draft copy of the bill, is reporting that the legislation would call on the state Division of Local Government Services and the Local Finance Board to assist in the city’s affairs.
“We want to give the taxpayers of New Jersey an active voice in how public funds are spent in Atlantic City,” Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) said. “The state continues to provide substantial resources to a city with a budget that is far out of proportion for its size and population. We have to bring responsible financial management and practices to Atlantic City.”
News of the proposed takeover comes just a day after Trenton dealt another potential blow to the city Monday, when Gov. Chris Christie announced that he had helped broker a deal between Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-Secaucus) that will possibly pave the way for casino gaming in northern New Jersey to become a reality.
In a fiery statement released late Monday, state Sen. Jim Whelan (D-Northfield) blasted the proposal.
“A state takeover of Atlantic City would be a disaster,” said Whelan, who served as mayor of the city from 1990 to 2001. “Given its abysmal, 30-year track record in taking over school districts, I seriously doubt the state of New Jersey will be the white knight to save Atlantic City. More importantly, a state takeover threatens to disenfranchise the residents of Atlantic City, removing their democratically elected government. Anyone who supports a state takeover is no friend of Atlantic City, and I urge all of my colleagues to vehemently fight this ill-conceived plan.”
Atlantic City is already under the watch of an emergency management team appointed by Christie last year.
Christie did not mention the takeover proposal or any plan regarding the city during Tuesday’s State of the State address.
Contracting website gets state Senate approval
Continuing the state’s theme of “one-stop shopping” for jobs, the state Senate on Thursday unanimously voted to pass legislation creating a website for available government contracts.
Continuing the state’s theme of “one-stop shopping” for jobs, the state Senate on Thursday unanimously voted to pass legislation creating a website for available government contracts.
“Job seekers shouldn’t have to search various locations to track down which public agencies have contracting opportunities available,” said state Sen. Donald Norcross (D-Camden), who co-sponsored the bill with Sen. Linda Greenstein (D-Monroe), in a released statement. “By creating an online one-stop shop for contractors looking for work, we will ensure that contract listings are easily accessible to all prospective bidders, and in effect, increase our residents’ chances of finding a job.”
The website, to be called “Bulletin NJ”, would be created by the Division of Local Government Services, in the Department of Community Affairs. The bill still must pass the Assembly before moving on to Gov. Chris Christie‘s desk.
“I had conversations over the years with many contractors — construction, particularly — when they’re trying to scour the different government entities for government contracts,” Norcross said. Historically, contractors would have to scour newspapers to find such notices; “there wasn’t a single comprehensive place to go to. And that becomes very difficult for contractors who might not be able to pick up the newspaper from that vicinity.”
“I’m thinking, I go online every day, and when I find news, I go right to CNN or NJBIZ, and it’s easy to find. That was the impetus behind the thought to make a single place that those seeking work could go to, search by county, by municipality. The further down the governmental wrung you go, the more difficult it becomes, such as fire districts, municipal utility authorities,” he said.
Norcross also said the bill helps taxpayers, because the more competitive bidders on a project, “generally speaking, the better the price will be.”
“Bulletin NJ will provide an invaluable resource to contractors, giving them instant access to bidding opportunities available at public entities across the state,” Greenstein said in a release. “At a time when so many people are unemployed, this will ensure those looking for contracting work have a wealth of information at their fingertips and, therefore, a greater probability of finding a job.”
According to the release, if the legislation is passed, the database will be online by March 1, 2012, with searchable information organized by the name of the public entity publishing the listing.
E-mail Melinda Caliendo at [email protected]