Gov. Jon Corzine proposed the aid cuts in an apparent effort to stimulate consolidation of services and resources among municipalities with fewer than 10,000 residents. However, as the Borough of Emerson points out, it has been actively pursuing shared services through its participation in a cooperative pricing agreement, a consortium of 10 Pascack Valley municipalities, including Old Tappan. The cooperative pricing consortium, made up the administrators of member municipalities, has already gone out on a joint bid for road resurfacing projects, a move that will hopefully lead to savings for all the participating towns.

Additionally, the borough of Emerson had previously planned to purchase a sewer jet at a cost of approximately $250,000. Subsequently, the borough decided to share the vehicle with two other towns, bringing Emerson’s portion of the tab to $66,000. Now, the county has agreed to purchase the vehicle for use by all 10 Pascack Valley towns, making Emerson’s contribution to the cost of the vehicle nothing.

Lamatina’s report brings to light an argument that many leaders of smaller municipalities have used lately to challenge Corzine’s aid cuts. That is that while the state would like to cut funding to smaller municipalities to force them to reduce spending, it is the larger cities in the state that spend more per resident. For example, Hackensack ’s municipal spending amounts to about $1,800 yearly per resident, whereas Emerson’s spending per resident is approximately $1,300. According to Lamatina, this is evidence that “bigger is not always better.”

He encourages residents of the borough to contact their state senators and assemblymen to voice their opposition to the proposed aid cuts before the municipal budget is adopted. While Emerson’s budget hearing is scheduled for April 15, the borough has been advised by its auditor to not adopt the budget until the state aid numbers have been finalized.

Karen F. Mrnarevic's e-mail address is Mrnarevic@northjersey.com.