VOLUME XVI, NUMBER 3

WHO PAYS FOR THE PROJECT?
Readers of this Newsletter will remember that the basic Agreement between the State of New Jersey and the Federal Government spells out that about 75% of the Project cost is to be paid by Congress; and 25% by the State of New Jersey.
That deal was finalized in June of 1999. It's called the Project Cooperation Agreement, signed by New Jersey and the USA.
New Jersey's plan, from the beginning, has been that the Counties to be protected would be asked to pay one-quarter of New Jersey's 25%. That amount's to 6.25 percent of the total, all Counties combined.

THE STATE TURNS TO THE COUNTIES

The construction for the first few years will be entirely within Somerset County and Middlesex County.
So the State turned to those two Counties and said, "Between you two Counties combined, we need 6.25% percent of the Project cost in your area".
"Will you two Counties get together and decide how you would like to split the 6.25 percent between you".

PROTECTING THE TAXPAYERS

Naturally, the Freeholders of Somerset County and the Freeholders of Middlesex County want protection from flooding.
But they also want to protect their taxpayers from paying more than their fair share.
As might be imagined, negotiations about an equitable division between Middlesex County and Somerset County took a while. Each County was determined to receive flood protection. And each County was determined to protect it's taxpayers.

A LONG PROCESS: AND AN AGREEABLE OUTCOME

This negotiation process began in the Summer of 1999. The final agreements (called State Aid Agreements) were signed by the State with each of the two Counties in February 2002.
Based upon the cost estimates for the work in those two Counties, the final agreement provides that Somerset County will pay $11 million, and Middlesex County will pay $9.6 million.
These costs will be spread out over the several years of construction.

A VERY BIG STEP FORWARD

The people of Middlesex County and Somerset County can be very proud of their elected leaders in New Brunswick and in Somerville.
The Freeholders worked hard to get the best possible results for their constituents. It's now all spelled out in this State Aid Agreement.
Middlesex Borough, Dunellen, Piscataway and South Plainfield now have the assurance of protection at a very favorable cost to their County budget.
And Bound Brook, Bridgewater and Green Brook will be protected at a tiny fraction of the cost which floods have caused in the past.

THANKS

On behalf of the thousands of people who will benefit from this far sighted Agreement made by the Freeholders of Middlesex and the Freeholders of Somerset, the Green Brook Flood Control Commission offers its sincere thanks to all who made this happen.

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