| Author |
Message |
    
Dave
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 5, 2001 - 9:52 am: |     |
What untapped sources of grant funds do you think the township could pursue to offset our real property taxes? |
Admin
| | Posted on Saturday, June 16, 2001 - 7:11 am: | |
DAVID HUEMER:
Maplewood was one of three Essex County communities to receive any monies from the State's Extraordinary Aid this year. Extraordinary Aid and the REAP Program are the only state grant programs specifically designed to relieve municipal taxes. I attended the June 5th Township Committee meeting where the Committee applied for $450,000 of REDI funds. REDI is the planning portion of the REAP program. Once Maplewood implements the recommendation of the planners, benefits from REAP pass directly through to residents' tax bills as a result of Maplewood's regionalization efforts. I also support the Township Committee resolution on the state effort to double Legislative Municipal Block Grant monies. This year, it would mean $94,000 to Maplewood. I favor applying that directly to property tax relief. |
Admin
| | Posted on Saturday, June 16, 2001 - 7:12 am: | |
SCOTT KISCH:
Green Acres State program. Could be used to set aside remaining open space, park beautification. Use for Springfield Ave beautification might be a stretch but with a well-written application, endorsements and lobbying, you never know.
TEA-21 Fed program (Thank you Frank Lautenberg). Transportation funding typically seen as source for major capital projects such as rail, highway, bridges etc. But elements of this are also available for enhancements, beautification and character. Might have application for Springfield Ave. greenery, sidewalks, curbs, lampposts etc. As long as your project can be connected to a central thoroughfare somehow, you have a chance at this. As such, it might be applied to the fringe projects associated w/Springfield Ave ie. Tuscan/Library area.
Additionally, we should collectively lobby, w/our neighboring school districts, for a 100,000 new teachers element in any federal education bill.
We should lobby for an additional 100k police under the COPS program. This would be inserted in any crime bill that comes up to be administered by the Justice Dept.
We should also collectively support our Congressman Bill Pascrell for a bill hes introduced to hire 100k new firefighters nationwide, modeled after the COPS program. Pascrell has also introduced a block grant proposal to provide local municipalities with updated firefighting equipment. A particular piece of equipment covered under this is the thermal imaging camera. Very expensive, but it saves lives. Infrared device that can detect humans in even the darkest, smoke-filled environments even those in bed under the covers. |
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