Steve Adubato outlines what the latest Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey poll may mean for local governments and school districts in the state of New Jersey.
The poll, he says, shows that the time is ripe for service consolidation — and not just hte small stuff like purchasing rock salt.
Adubato writes that he:
had always believed that police and fire services would be off limits for most citizens. If this poll is correct, there may be a narrow window of opportunity to act. When I say act, I don’t simply mean encouraging or supporting mergers or consolidation of services. I’m talking about mandating that these things take place.
The question is how willing will folks be to merge when faced with the actual merger? Reducing the number of government entities makes sense, and I think that most people would agree with that, but given conversations we’ve had with residents and government officials in Cranbury, Jamesburg and Monroe I have to wonder if people agree with the concept more than they will agree with the actual practice no matter the tax savings.
And then there is the question of goals. Should cash savings be the only motivation, or should some mergers be considered to help balance racially segregated communities? And what happens if that is put on the table? What would the poll results show then?
I do believe that reducing the number of towns and school districts makes sense. I just don’t think that residents of smaller communities are going to make it easy.
South Brunswick Post, The Cranbury Press
The Blog of South Brunswick
Hank Kalet 