VOLUME XIV, NUMBER 4

WHO PAYS THE BILL FOR FLOOD CONTROL?

When our former congressman Matt Rinaldo (R-17th District) and Bob Roe (D-9th District) convinced congress to authorize the Green Brook Flood Control Project back in 1986, the rules were: 75)%', of the cost to be paid by the Federal Government and 25% by the State.
New Jersey agreed. And the State made it clear that 25% of the State cost must be paid by the Counties receiving the benefit.

That amounts to 1/16th of the total cost, or 61/%.

NEW JERSEY SIGNED ON THE DOTTED LINE IN 1999

Readers of this newsletter will remember that a very important milestone was achieved last year: New Jersey signed a Project Cooperation Agreement with the Federal Government in June 1999.
That agreement spelled out all of the details about how the Project will be paid for - both for the construction cost and for the long-term maintenance.
New Jersey let it be known that the Counties would be expected to sign a comparable contract with the State, spelling out the responsibilities of the Counties to pay their share of construction and maintenance costs.

MIDDLESEX AND SOMERSET COUNTIES HAD TO AGREE

The first segments of construction will take place in Middlesex and Somerset Counties, from the confluence of the Stony Brook with the Green Brook in Plainfield and North Plainfield, down to the Raritan River. This portion has a total cost of $331 million. New Jersey has agreed to pay 25%, or about $82.7 million.
Middlesex and Somerset Counties together will be expected to pay 1/4% of that, or about $20.6 million.
The State of New Jersey provided this cost information to the Freeholders of both Counties. But the State made it clear that Middlesex and Somerset Counties would have to decide how that part of the cost would be shared.

NEW JERSEY OFFERED THE COUNTIES SEVERAL IDEAS

The State gave the Freeholders of Middlesex and Somerset Counties several possible ideas for a split of these costs:
• One half could be paid by each County: Middlesex, approximately $10.3 million, and Somerset approximately $10.3 million.
• Sharing based upon construction costs in each County: Middlesex, $11 .6 million, and Somerset $9 million.
• Sharing based upon drainage area of the Project: Middlesex $12.1 million and Somerset $8.5 million.
• Sharing based upon benefits to be realized: Middlesex $7.1 million and Somerset $13.5 million.

THE FREEHOLDERS REACH A COMPROMISE AGREEMENT

The Middlesex and Somerset Freeholders did some tough bargaining. They were mindful of their obligation to their taxpayers to hold costs down.
But they were also mindful of their very important obligation to provide flood protection for their people. The result was a compromise. Middlesex County agreed to provide S9.6 million and Somerset County agreed to provide $11 million.

OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE

The key persons in this compromise agreement were Freeholder Director David B. Crabiel (D) of Middlesex County and Freeholder Peter Palmer (R) of Somerset County.
The people of these Counties are very fortunate to have these two experienced and dedicated leaders. They are both highly knowledgeable about the problem of flooding. And both were determined to protect the best interest of their constituents.
The full Freeholder Boards of both Counties have approved this compromise.

VERNON A. NOBLE, Chairman
111 GREENBOOK ROAD, GREEN BROOK, NEW JERSEY  08812 * (732) 968-2018