34

opinion

Herald A Lantern 14 April '82

editorial The Silent Majority Most of you reading these words right now are either satisfied with how a large chunk of your tax dollar is being spent, or you really dori’t.give a damn! Now that’s a pretty strong S eneralizatibn to make, given the fact we orr’t know you at all But it’s true—if you look at the numbers. Tuesday a week ago there was an election in ■'your community (unless'you live in Sea Isle City where the Bpajd of Education is ap- " pointed by the governing body) te decide on the' expenditure of tens of thousands or millions of dollars to educate the children where you live, and to decide who should sit on the'sehool board (one of the great unpaying, thankless, privileges that helps constitute a democratic Republic). ' ABOUT'5.IKKI CITIZENS from 16 school districts decided one way or the other on the expenditure ol a total of more than $27 million in tax dollars. 1 They are the county-wide statistics The range was 15 voters who voted on $107,000 worth of tax Jcvies in West Wildwood (which doesn't even have a school) to the 604 voters who turned out on election day in Ocean City to' decide the fate of a $5 million tax levy in support of public education in that city. . , . . • The- turnout at the school election polls means about one out of ten Jersey Cape registered, voters had a say in expenditures which countywide’are measured in the multimillipps of dollars. As wo said at the outset, that tigs to mean either most people are well pleased how their tax dollars are being spent on education—or very apathetic. We wonder

which

US, CG, Us User Fees as a way to help pay the cost of ' Coast Guard protection and service'’. Our immediale.reactlon to the Secretary of Transportation's proposal (see frontpage story) takes the form of an offshore scenario and an aboveboard comparison. . As th the .former, one cart,easily imagine a great reduction in the "breakdowns" at sea which have, occurred .since the price of gasoline and 'diesel; fuel skyrocketed, bet's Me, the Coast Guardsman says after lowing the pleasure craft to shore, that'll be 43 fL times 26 miles at 55 cents a/oot-mile... s THEN THEBE'S THE WEEKEND SAILOR out with .his family,who's reluctant tb signal for help as his aged outboard takes on water, because tje's already taken out a second'mortgage to afford a week at the shore and he really cant afford to pay the fee for service... Then to comparisons. When We look around and see how beach fees have caught on locally as a wily of helping municipal governihent pay for the cost of a specialized service, why should it come as such a shock if the federal government resorts to thdsamg thing? Immediate reactions ■ InitiaU food for thought Just the beginning of the long debate.

The Kitchen is Our Favorite

By Mm. Herbert Francis

Campbell

’ Naturally we love every room -‘n our house but of them all the kitchen is our favorite Not because it’s ultra modem—it isn’t, and not because the carpet is so deep and lush that one sinks to his ankles—one doesn’t. There’s'a charm, though. Over the door leading to the hall is a painted, wooden sign: The Management of This Establishment ' is jfot Retpontible. > That tickles me^nd it’s not entirely myth Sometimes, like all cooks, I walk into' the kitchen and think. "What in the world shall I cook to-night?" i know there, are some women who have all their menus carefully planned for the week Nut I! perhaps, what I think we’ll like, come Wednesday, we can’t abide'by then , Also when I do try to plap ahead, something is always missing when that day ar- • rives. If I. tlifink I’ll have roast duck, I find the last orange has been eaten, when I decide I’ll have'len(il soup, there’s not a lemon in th£ house The same with borset:- no sour cream: Now we‘ do eat well. I

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LANTERN

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have no false modesty. I’m one great cook, but in my book of priorities there are many things of more importance than racing to the store for rosemary or mushrooms or grated cheese! So if I can’t throw together what I thought I’d * serve, I switch to

something else.

Honesty compels me,to admit that writing a column for a good paper is more fun than peeling onions or'cleaning up the counters. Where is it written Uiat I have to like everything connected with housework, anyway? ’ But back to the kitchen: It'sia bit disconcerting to find that I bought sliced pineapplelnstead of crushed. Sliced wont’ do in the dessert I.wanted to makh. And the Melba toast I though I'd have on hand to eat when I don't feel up to par, has Seeds in it! I should have checked the bok more carefully. These things happen to me all the time. But I take them in stride. I just look at that sign over the door, smile and shrug my shoulders. I don’t ever intend to let a little thing like buying the wrong cake mix bother me. I revel in the stuff in'our kitchen. The plate over the sink that has the Lord's Prayer on it, and the other one with that famous kitchen jirayer assuage my fftistra.tibns. the Joseph's Coat plant, growing in the window tells me that "more things are wrought by prayer than this world

dreams of."

the old iron 1 trivet (a spiderweb — plus spider) is darijq^the picAure I painted of red onions (and named Lilies) Hh’lls Me I'm not altogether devoid of artistic Valent, and that cheers me. the picture of the Halloween cat made by our gteat'grandson' wh^n he was five decorates a cup-

board door.

The pan&are p/obably evdry which-way In the closet, but that\okay, the door's'closed. I often think of Marjorjf Klnrian Rawlings U>ho wrote that beautiful booH, The Yearling. Her Florida neighbors said, “She’s a terrible housekeeper!)" Well, nobody Temtembers he* - neighbors. Idle gossip doesn't ensure immortality, whereas everyone who has read Marjorie’s book-knows a delight that only

her lovely writing cjuld Supply

The little bfanchof fresh flowers in an old bottle.'on the fridge adds class and if f the fan doesn't entirely oust the aroma of sauerkraut cooking — who cares? Our kitchen i^ my playroom - and I wouldn't have it changed a bit I ^ ^ Kirs. Herbert Francis .Campbell of‘Ocean View is a freelance writer. ' V i

,4 ' ’ . reader's forum ,. 9 / • State Pirating Municipal Funds

. by Wade Gdrdon Cooper Accompanying this is a copy of an editorial that appeared in the April issue ot New Jersey Municipalities, the magazine of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, wi'itten by John E. Trafford, the editor. The editorial points out many facts that I tave told the taxpayers at the various budget hearings* hat have been held here in Lqwer ToWnship. The state, in simple terms, - is “stealing" revenues from the municipalities tV solve its own fiscal mess. This theft of funds means . higher taxes at the local level. And we bear the brunt of taxpayer ire. It should be directed th Trenton, and the taxpayers should he so informed. Wadp Gordon Cobper is Lower Township Treasurer. ^ THi STATt BUDOtT BALANCING AtTt TNtY AM Am ft GROSS OTCfIPTS MOMffS AGAIN Neyv Jersey’s municipalities have always been at the mercy of the state, which historically has controlled local destinies in significant measure. Trenton not only has shaped local operations through an ever-increasing body of laws and administrative regulations, but periodically attempts to solve its own fiscal problems by-usurping revenues that have been distributed to murticipallties for years and rightfully belong to them. Attempts to siphon off monies intended for municipalities have been frequent in recent years. And too often they, have been successful. In the mid HfrOs, municipalities suddently were cut off.from $25 million in annual distributions from the Sales and Use; Tax Act; monies they’had been receiving for almost a decade pursuant to a statutory commitment set forth in the originarlegislation. In the same year, some $15 million in county and municipal’road aid funding fell victim to the state's balanced hudgpt^Since then, a favorite target of

attempted rape by the state has been the gross receipts and franchise tax monies which have been received by muitacipalities in lieu of local property taxes. Fortunately thesei attacks have been unsuccessful. So far. . Several developments on both the state and federal levels should give local officials tause for '.considerable ’ concern, however, because, they constitute the classic conditions which precipitate such pirating of funds. Governor Kean and the Legislature are now grappling with, the New Jersey state budget for fiscal year 1982/83 and. already there is speculation regarding what fiscal sleight-pf-hand will be pulled off to accomplish the m'agic of a balanced budget. Already,-and not surprisingly; there are indications that (he White rabbit podpd to spring out of the hat is spelled Gross Receipts and Franchise Taxes. We will vigorously oppose any.proposed state takeover, as. we have in the past. Hopefully we will preserve our rightful fiscal possessions. But,even if we do prevail this 1 year, this will be only another.rehearsal for a struggle of ' gigantic proportions which inevitably will Come-several years down the road when New Jersey starts losing millions of dollars in federal funding at a time when it also must assume numerals programs which will be returned to the states under (he New Federalism. ’• It iA too early to speculate about the outcome, but given* the realities of the pecking order among levels oPgovernment, the buck Will probably stop at the bottom That means us. But if that does happen it will be a mockery of the whole concept of the New Federalism .If the municipal level which is this primary, most intimate level of government atrophies because it hhs been cut fiscally adrift by either the state or federal levels, or both, the rhetoric about returning responsibility to the grass roots will be empty indeed.

viewpoint

Free Beaches Gould Be Costly

i seems. ^ ’ v / ^ 1 ions of: p £ wfe'W f is

N.

by James H. Hurley

Legislation to make all New Jersey beaches free seems like a great idea — until you give it some thought. Every year, shpre communities spend millions dollars maintaining beaches and keeping them safe

swimmer??

For example. Seaside Park alone has budgeted $429,000 this year for lifeguards, gate attendants, beach cleanup

and sand restoration

If all beaches were free, as .Democratic Sen Raymond Zane has proposed, who would pay for these costs?

The beach.communities?

* Withoqt beach fees. th^se\rommunities would have tb

find a.new revenue source.

•Theycould raise property taxes, which would result in vacationers paying higher rental fees for summer homes

Any way it i£ done, the vacationer will still wind up pay-

ig for the beaches,

The other option is tb let the state pick upjhe beach tab. Faced with a $527 million budget deficit for the upcopiing fiscal year, the,state does not have-'ariy spare money

•dvailahle.for beach maintenance.

And if the State was forced to raise taxes to keep beaches safe and clean, all residents could wind up sup'fwrtlng the beaches, even those who do riot use them fi is much fairer to continue the present system of having those who enjoy the beaches pay a dollar or two a day

to maintain them.

THK 124-MILE COASTLINE Is New Jersey’s most

valuable asset and must be protected.

By eliminating beach fees, the state would run the risk

or molpj rooms They iould altempt to make up for the ^'of benches deteriorating, becominp unsafe or even clnsioK

lojil revenues by ( harping exorbitant parking fees or other for lack of money

nuiiCancc fees

,OR'THEY CAU LD TAX the businesses that benefit fnim toui%iri*sUCh as.motels and restaurants These .businesses undoubtedly would pass the extra expenses on ■ to lustumers by hiking the price of a room, a hamburger or \ T-shirt .

Making the beachbs free could cost all New Jerseypns

more in the long rub

James R Hurley* is State Senator from Cape May Cumberland