Letters: Before Toll Hikes, Cut Labor Costs
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Approximately 83,000 employees at an average salary of $50,000 equals
... let's see ... $4.15 billion. That's only for salaries. Add 10
percent for payroll taxes and another 3 percent for minimal pension
costs and that equals an additional $540 million.
Therefore, labor costs alone account for at least 14 percent of the
total 2007-08 New Jersey budget. That doesn't even include health
benefits.
Now Gov. Jon S. Corzine has outlined his plan to raise revenue so the state can meet its obligations.
He says the debt of the state of New Jersey is equal to $45,000 per
household, and this is why the Legislature must continue to raise
"revenue." ote that I said raise "revenue" and not raise taxes.
Our state politicians no longer raise taxes. Instead, they burden us
with all kinds of business-related and personal fees, costs, tolls,
etc. so they can say they didn't raise taxes and continue to get
elected. But nowhere did I see the governor or any of our elected
officials mention the obviously bloated state labor force as a
potential source of cost cutting.
Let's demand that our elected officials begin to cut costs as opposed
to raising revenue to keep us afloat. In fact, I have a proposal for
our government.
I will secure a home equity loan on my house for $45,000. With that
money, I will pay off my share of the current state debt with the
proviso that I must be consulted before any additional costs are added
into the state budget. If I don't agree, I will veto any new spending.
I refuse to allow these Trenton
spendthrifts to continue to pile on the debt. I will accept no more. If
each of the households in New Jersey will do the same, we can pay off
our state debt and not increase tolls. We can regain control of our
state and send a clear message to the New Jersey politicians that there
is a solution to our problems.
Gov. Corzine, state lawmakers: Stop the nonsense.
MARK MOROWITZ
Linwood