Snow removal funding would be cut in half under Christie budget plan [View all]

Last edited Sun Jan 24, 2016, 11:17 AM - Edit history (1)

Snow removal funding would be cut in half under Christie budget plan

While the snow continues to pile up this winter, and memories of last year's heavy accumulations still haven't melted away, the new 2016 state budget proposal unveiled by Gov. Chris Christie last week cuts snow removal funding for the coming winter in half.

Highlights of the governors' $33.8 billion proposed spending plan for Fiscal 2016 include a $44 million reduction in "winter operations/snow removal," a 49.3 percent reduction from the current fiscal year.

The reduction in snow removal spending is part of a broader reduction of $118 million, or 8.4 percent in the state Department of Transportation's overall budget, from $1.41 billion to $1.29 billion -- the steepest departmental budget cut in the state government under the governor's proposed spending plan, which would raise overall state spending by 3.1 percent.

Because this man makes up numbers to fit his fake story about a balanced budget instead of say... basing them on historical figures or new technology.
Love how he is cutting all dept of transportation as our roads and bridges are failing. How many people had their cars damaged by a pot hole on the turnpike this week? 50 was it?

Update for 2016 (of course the title is out of date by a few days )
BREAKING: With snowstorm bearing down on New Jersey, Chris Christie stays in New Hampshire to campaign

The Christie budget document for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1, notes a $44 million reduction for winter operations and snow removal, but Department of Treasury spokesman Joseph Perrone said there's no intent to spend less than what's needed.

"It's really a misnomer to think that figure indicates we are counting on spending less by that amount,'' said Perrone, who said the state typically starts each fiscal year with $10 million budgeted for winter operations.

"This is an expenditure you can't predict because you can't predict the weather,'' Perrone said. "We add to our starting figure through supplemental appropriations based on how much money is needed to keep our roads safe.''

In other words the figure was just made up so Christie could produce another falsely balanced budget by underestimating the real cost of things - typical republican ploy.