January 27, 2010
PALMER SWORN IN AS NJAC PRESIDENT
Somerset Freeholder pledges to focus on transportation aid
TRENTON - Peter S. Palmer, Somerset County Freeholder, was sworn in yesterday as President of the New Jersey Association of Counties.
In his remarks to the organization, which advocates on behalf of the state’s 21 county governments, Palmer said that his focus for the year will be on improving the network of county transportation systems.
“The state of New Jersey is providing less than 20 percent of the funding needed to maintain our county transportation systems,” said Palmer. “This deficit has implications for our economy, public safety and property taxes.”
Palmer noted that county governments are responsible for maintaining 13,584 lane miles of county roads. That figure exceeds even the number of lane miles under the state’s control. Counties are also responsible for more than 7,000 bridges, hundreds of which have been identified as either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.
“We can’t wait until a bridge collapses to make this a higher priority,” said Palmer.
In order to repair or replace the 820 county bridges identified as structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, the New Jersey Association of County Engineers estimates that counties would have to spend more than $2.7 billion over the next decade. Add in the cost of road resurfacing and various design and construction expenses and counties would have to spend $500 million every year for the next ten years.
“The state provides $87 million per year for county transportation projects. The balance – more than $426 million – requires county funding,” said Palmer. “That places an enormous burden on county budgets and local property taxpayers.
Palmer said that county officials are also highly concerned about the future of the state Transportation Trust Fund, which is set to expire in 2011, and that his organization plans to work closely with the Legislature and the new administration to identify a stable funding source.
“County roads have become regional highways linking people, products and businesses to the larger economy,” said Palmer. “We have to be more persistent in working with state officials to ensure a level of investment that guarantees public safety and promotes economic growth.”
The new NJAC President pointed out that roads and bridges that are not consistently maintained eventually require more expensive repairs.
“We’re not saving money by shortchanging transportation,” said Palmer. “The long-term costs are always much higher, and sometimes tragic.”
Elected along with Palmer to leadership positions within the organization were:
• James M. Carroll, First Vice President, Bergen County Freeholder Director
• Robert D. Clifton, Second Vice President, Monmouth County Freeholder
• Beth E. Timberman, Secretary Treasurer, Salem County Freeholder Board Deputy Director
• Carol Y. Clark, Immediate Past President, Essex County Freeholder
Palmer was elected in 1997 to the Somerset County Freeholder Board, on which he served as Director three times including in 2008. He is also a former President of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority and a member of various transportation and community organizations.
Save the dates now for the Annual NJAC Conference, June 15 through June 18.
For more information on the New Jersey Association of Counties, visit the NJAC website at www.njac.org, or call the office at 609-394-3467.
