ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 866

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 25, 1996

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 866 (1R).

      Senate Bill No. 866 (1R) authorizes the Commissioner of Transportation to allocate and transfer monies for extraordinary road maintenance and repairs from the revenues and other funds of the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority appropriated for the FY 1995 and the FY 1996 transportation capital construction programs. The bill authorizes the commissioner to transfer $15 million for the State highway system, $4 million for grants to counties for county road repairs and $6 million for grants to municipalities for municipal road repairs.

      Grants to counties and municipalities would be allocated based on a formula to be developed by the commissioner that gives equal consideration to population, local jurisdiction road mileage, and winter weather conditions. The list of allocation and transfers by county and municipality shall be submitted to the Joint Budget Oversight Committee and shall take effect in 15 days unless disapproved by the committee.

      Due to the severity and frequency of winter storms, extraordinary damage was not anticipated and therefore not budgeted. This bill would provide funds to make these necessary repairs.

      As reported, this bill is identical to Assembly Bill No. 1403 ACS, as amended and reported by this committee.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill authorizes the use of $25 million in Transportation Trust Fund monies for extraordinary road maintenance and repairs for State highways and county and municipal roads.