Subject: More workers, fewer jobs have put the Garden State in a bind: Press of AC; Several indicators suggest that we've put ourselves into a deep hole and won't get out without more dramatic action. … From 2000 through 2007, the state added on average just 543 new private-sector jobs per year, according to state figures reported by the nonpartisan and nonprofit New Jersey Policy Research Organization. During that same period, 54,800 new public employees were added to taxpayer-funded payrolls … As residents, we're all familiar with paying the highest property taxes per person in the nation - about 4.8 percent of our income. … But that's just the beginning of New Jersey's tax burden. Our individual income tax has a top rate of 8.97 percent, the sixth highest in the nation. … Our corporate income tax has a top rate of 9.36 percent, … The sensible thing would be to cut back on public sector employment and reduce taxes to encourage companies to locate here, … Unfortunately, this happens to be the worst time to do that, with the national economy faltering and the state following it. In January alone, New Jersey lost 9,200 private-sector jobs … Cutting government payrolls now will just undermine the economy further. ... I'm afraid that before we're out of this hole, we'll wish we only had to make the cuts to various departments and programs so far proposed.

RESPONSE: With the cuts being proposed at the State level...we hear the inevitable outcry. The Farmers don't want the Department of Agriculture cut. The campers and hikers don't want State Parks cut. Small towns don't want to have to pay for State Police services and others don't want a cut in the amount of State aid they have become accustomed to...and we could go on and on here. Everyone talks about cuts but when the cuts effect their interests ... they complain.

The overly generous benefit plans for teachers, cops and other government employees need to be at the top of the list of cuts. The proposal to deal with contract negotiations at a County level for teachers is a critical step that MUST be acted on NOW. It was raised at last nights Mullica Town Meeting and we will see if there is any leadership in Mullica.