A bill package which would make Atlantic City’s casino industry more competitive by introducing smaller casinos and scaling back over-regulation of the industry, was approved in committee. The legislation in this package that has caught the most attention is one that will allow along with the traditional, 500-room capacity, minimum 60,000 square foot casinos, developers…
Legislation requiring all future public employees to live in New Jersey was approved by the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee. The “New Jersey First Act” would require all newly hired public employees to live in New Jersey or to move to the state within one year of taking a position. Current…
A measure which would allow for interdistrict public school choice, was unanimously approved by the Senate Education Committee. Under the program, students would apply to attend their district of choice, which would use criteria outlined in the bill’s provisions to accept or deny students. Students would be required to be enrolled in grades preschool through twelve,…
Two bills aimed at ensuring the Governor’s budget matches its proponents’ calls for “shared sacrifice” among all New Jerseyans while protecting seniors and the disabled from potentially crushing prescription drug costs and higher property taxes were released by the Senate and Budget Appropriations Committee. The first bill calls for reinstating an income tax surcharge on…
Governor Chris Christie today outlined a plan for affordable housing. Under the new system, the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) and State-imposed housing obligations will be abolished and a fair, locally directed obligations to build low and moderate-income housing will be created. he Governor’s proposal calls for a 10 percent affordable housing unit requirement in…
Taking its instruction from township committee, the Board of Education passed a new budget in Upper Township. Four part-time and one full-time job will be cut as a result, according to a report by the Press of Atlantic City. The district was looking for a 4.5 cent increase to the tax rate, but voters turned…
A tax increase was passed in West Cape May on Wednesday. A public hearing and final adoption was held on the $2 million budget. The new tax rate is 28.3 cents per $100 assessed valuation. This new budget includes no layoffs. The commission is also address a water lose problem by creating an amnesty program…
A major emergency beach fill project in Avalon will now start five days later than the anticipated start date. Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, LLC of Illinois informed Avalon officials that the beach fill project will begin on or about Thursday, May 20th, 2010. Great Lakes is putting more resources into the emergency joint…
The Cape May County Jail’s expansion work could begin before the end of the year. Sheriff Gary Schaffer tells Coastal Broadcasting that ground movement could begin in September when the MUA comes in to move some pipes that would need to be adjusted before the expansion. Schaffer has been meeting with architects to get the plans…
New Jersey lawmakers may consider a bill that would create a voucher program in the name of a scholarship. The Senate is looking a bi-partisan bill that could put up to 4,000 children in private school in the first year. It is a pilot program that would last five years. Sens. Raymond Lesniak and Tom…