SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 802

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 18, 1996

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 802 of 1996.

      Senate Bill No. 802 appropriates $7 million to the Department of Transportation for grants to counties and municipalities for extraordinary winter snow operations. Of the $7 million, $6 million would be for grants to municipalities and $1 million for grants to counties. The grants would be allocated based on a formula developed by the Commissioner of Transportation which gives equal consideration to population, local jurisdiction road mileage and winter weather conditions.

      Due to the severity and frequency of winter storms beginning in December of 1995 and the record-breaking quantity of snow which covered the State in the Blizzard of January '96, most counties and municipalities have expended more than the entire amount allocated in their budget for winter snow operations with several months of winter yet to come. This bill would help ease the burden on localities by providing grants to cover a portion of these extraordinary expenses.

FISCAL IMPACT

      This bill appropriates $7 million from the General fund to the Department of Transportation for grants to counties and municipalities.