Monmouth Battlefield closing

[fiberisgoodforyou]

Freehold Boro is closely linked historically and some what economically to the Monmouth Battle Field.

Now Governor Corzine is planning on simply pulling the plug and closing this most historic open space.

As Freehold Boro residents, we all must know that is not just a state park. The Monmouth Battle Field is a pivotal historic battle ground which leads to a victorious American Revolution.

We all know of Molly Pitcher and the role the Hall of records played, but there is an even richer significance to our home town, Freehold Boro…..,

Well Before the historic Battle of Yorktown where British Major General Lord Charles Cornwallis surrendered to Continental Army General General Washington,…. just over a mile away from were WE CALL HOME, at OUR Monmouth Battle Field…, is where Continental Army General Washington and engaged in battle for the first time against British Major General Lord Charles Cornwallis (Kinda like Patton vs. Rommel or Ali Vs Frazier) resulting not only in the longest single battle of the Revolution, but the Battle of Monmouth is first retreat from battle of the Kings Troops under the command of British Major General Lord Charles Cornwallis.

AND NOW….
One in five New Jersey state parks would be forced to close at the height of the summer season and 80 parks workers would be laid off as part of cost-cutting measures forced by Gov. Jon S. Corzine's austere budget.
The Department of Environmental Protection is proposing to close nine state parks entirely, slash services at three more, and reduce offseason hours at all 42 sites.

"These cuts are very significant," said DEP Commissioner Lisa Jackson, who delivered the bad news this morning to park supervisors and union officials who represent the workers.

"I wouldn't want to minimize the impact on families who have used the parks, sometimes for a generation, and workers who care about the parks," she said. "These are painful decisions."

The list of parks slated for closure includes five in the Skylands region and two each in the Shore and Delaware River regions. Hours and services at three others would be drastically reduced. Parks targeted to close include High Point State Park and Round Valley Recreation Area in the north, Monmouth Battlefield State Park at the shore and Parvin State Park in the south.

The proposed closures would save about $4.5 million in salaries and maintenance, a small portion of the governor's proposed $33 billion budget, which looks to slash $2.7 billion to help fix the state's troubled finances.

Corzine said closing parks is part of a "whole host of choices that are painful through and through."

"These are tough choices," he said Tuesday. "While they're important services for the public, everything needs to be on the table."

Legislators must agree to Corzine's budget plan; the state constitution requires a balanced budget be adopted by July 1.

New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the nation and among the most financially troubled. It has the highest property taxes in the country, which average $6,800 per property owner — twice the national average.

Jackson said the DEP could not reach Corzine's mandated spending cuts for her department without closing parks.

She said the DEP looked at attendance, revenue, nearby similar services and whether a park could be effectively closed before making the list.

Some 17 million visitors use New Jersey parks and forests each year for camping, swimming, hiking, boating, picnicking and more. The parks slated for closure had 2 million visitors last year, according to the DEP.

Environmentalists say the modest fiscal savings are not worth the quality-of-life trade off.

"We have too many people in government who don't understand how important parks are for the people of New Jersey," said Jeff Tittel, executive director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. "Not everybody can have a house on Long Beach Island or the Hamptons. This is where people go on their vacations."

Tittel called the park closings "shortsighted," saying that outdoor recreation generates $3.9 billion yearly for the state's economy.

Carla Katz, president of Communications Workers of America Local 1034, which represents some park workers, called the cuts "wrongheaded" and "draconian."

"Closing treasured state parks and cutting the jobs of the hardworking state workers who staff them is a grave injustice and remarkably shortsighted," Katz said.

The layoffs would affect full-time park rangers and supervisors, historic and natural preservation specialists, and clerical and maintenance staff. Seasonal workers would not be hired for the affected areas, but no park police or fire rangers would lose their jobs, Katz said.

Jackson said only Island Beach State Park operates at a surplus. However, she said the DEP was reluctant to raise fees for parking and camping because the parks are typically used by people of modest means.
The list of nine New Jersey state parks that would close under Gov. Jon S. Corzine's proposed budget:

— Monmouth Battlefield State Park, 2,928 acres, Monmouth County. Visitor center, restrooms, closed.

[fiberisgoodforyou]

Nine state parks are slated for closure due to cuts in the Governor's budget. Camping, fishing, swimming and kids programs are threatened. Join the Keep It Green Campaign and its partners at the rally -- tell our state leaders to resolve our budget issues in other ways - not by closing our parks!

April 23, 2008 at 12:30
Front steps of the State House in Trenton at 125 West State Street.

Show our State Leaders you care by wearing your outdoor gear (backpacking, fishing waders, binoculars, etc.) and bringing your own signs. You can also pack a lunch and blanket and enjoy a picnic on the steps of our state capitol. Families are welcome!

Help spread the word!

Please encourage your friends, family members and neighbors to join you at the end. You can download a flyer and post it around your community by clicking here.



Frequently Asked Questions:

What kind of signs can I bring?
We strongly encourage you to make your own signs and bring them to the event. However, please keep in mind that the State House police prohibit wooden signs and sticks. Foamcore or corkboard signs are best.

[fiberisgoodforyou]

Save New Jersey's Parks!
Governor Corzine's proposed budget includes a devastating 15% cut to the NJ Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) budget. On April 1st the DEP announced that as a result of the proposed cuts, nine state parks will close and three others will close sections or reduce hours, including Round Valley, Highpoint, Washington Crossing and Monmouth Battlefield State Parks and Bryne State Forest.

Significant cuts to DEP's Divisions of Parks & Forestry and Fish & Wildlife threaten camping, fishing, wildlife-watching, swimming and educational programs for kids throughout the state. At the same time, the Garden State Preservation Trust, New Jersey's funding mechanisms for open space, farmland and historic preservation, will run out of money in less than a year and no plan is in place for continued funding.

Write your legislators today and tell them that this is not an acceptable way to resolve New Jersey's budget crisis! They should not approve a budget that includes these cuts. They must listen to New Jersey voters and continue to fund our state's parks, wildlife and preservation programs! Send a fax today by clicking "Send This Message" on the right. You can edit the letter at the bottom of this page.

Want to do more? Write a brief letter to the editor using the talking points provided and send it to your local newspaper and one or more regional or statewide papers.

Also, save the date for the Camp Out at the Capitol on April 23rd at 12:30 PM. Show your State Leaders you care, wear your outdoor gear, bring your own signs and rally to save our parks. For more information, visit www.NJKeepItGreen.org.


Save New Jersey's Parks!
Cuts to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP):

·The governor's proposed budget would cut the DEP's budget by 15% and eliminate 200-300 jobs at the agency.

·In the 1990's under Governor Whitman the budget was cut by almost a third and a quarter of the staff was laid off, and the agency has not recovered from those losses. In the past five years, an additional 400 jobs have been lost due to hiring freezes. The DEP simply cannot sustain yet another cut and continue to effectively protect the state's environment.

·The DEP's Division of Parks and Forestry has 40% fewer staff members than it did in 1994 and 40% more land to manage.

·The DEP constitutes only 0.7% of the overall state budget. Because of fines, fees, permits, and federal grants, the department is 90% self-sustaining with only 10% of its budget coming from general state funds.

·In fact, cutting DEP will cause the state to LOSE money. The state currently receives federal monies both in the form of matching funds, which will be lost if the state funding is not available.

Cuts to DEP's Division of Parks & Forestry

·DEP has announced that the proposed budget cuts would result in the closing of 9 state parks and portions of 3 other parks. These include Monmouth Battlefield State Park, High Point State Park, Brendan T. Byrne State Forest, Jenny Jump State Forest, Round Valley Recreation Area, Stephens State Park, Worthington State Forest, Parvin State Park, Fort Mott (including Hancock House), Bulls Island Recreation Area at D&R Canal State Park, and Shepherd's Lake Recreation Area at Ringwood State Park. Washington Crossing State Park will also have reduced hours and services.

·The closure of public parks will disproportionately affect low- and middle-income families who do not have access to private facilities.

·17 million people visit New Jersey's state parks every year, adding $3.9 billion to the state's economy through their wildlife-watching, hunting and fishing activities alone.

·The cuts in parks funding ignore the demonstrated will of the people, who have repeatedly voted to fund preservation programs.

Cuts to DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife:

·State budget cuts and staffing shortages will reduce recreational opportunities and harm the state's ability to care for wildlife species.

·Many businesses across the state rely on wildlife recreation-related income. Legislators must ensure that these dollars continue to be spent in NJ and not be drawn elsewhere.

·Salthingyer fishing alone involves over a million people each year, adding $841 million to the state's economy and substantially impacting our tourism industry.

·NJ is a haven for over 70 species of wildlife considered endangered or threatened. Allowing these species to decline to the point where they are required to be protected by law will result in more costly management.

Unclear Future for NJ's Preservation Programs:

·The devastating impacts of the budget cuts to our quality of life and economy highlight the need for a longer-term solution.

·The State Legislature and the Governor must pass legislation this spring to renewal and strengthen the Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT).

·Since its creation in 1998, the GSPT programs have preserved over 432,000 acres of parks, open space and farmland.

·New Jersey voters approved one-year of stop gap funding (ballot question #3) sending a clear message to our leaders that continued funding for preservation is a priority during fiscally challenging times.

·If additional funding is not secured, the GSPT will run out of money in twelve months causing preservation efforts throughout the state to come to a grinding halt.

[fiberisgoodforyou]

Cut, Paste and email....

Lisa P Jackson, Commissioner
401 E. State St.
7th Floor, East Wing
P.O. Box 402
Trenton, NJ 08625-0402
phone: [phone]
fax: [phone]

Governor Jon S. Corizone
Office of the Governor
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625
609-292-6000

NJ Senate Budget and Appropriations
Buono, Barbara - Chair
Sarlo, Paul A. - Vice-Chair
Bucco, Anthony R.
Cunningham, Sandra B.
Haines, Philip E.
Lance, Leonard
O'Toole, Kevin J.
Oroho, Steven V.
Redd, Dana L.
Ruiz, M. Teresa
Stack, Brian P.
Sweeney, Stephen M.
Turner, Shirley K.
Vitale, Joseph F.

NJ Assembly Budget Committee
Greenwald, Louis D. - Chair
Schaer, Gary S. - Vice-Chair
Burzichelli, John J.
Cryan, Joseph
Johnson, Gordon M.
Karrow, Marcia A.
Malone, Joseph R.
McHose, Alison Littell
O'Scanlon, Declan J.
Pou, Nellie
Quigley, Joan M.
Vas, Joseph

Dear [ Decision Maker ],
As you may know, Governor Corzine's proposed budget includes a 15% cut to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Because of repeated cuts over the last decade, the DEP cannot absorb an additional cut and still continue to protect New Jersey's environment and administer the programs that are so important to our public health, economy, and quality of life. I am particularly concerned about the proposed cuts to the Divisions of Parks & Forestry and Fish & Wildlife as well as the lack of a clear plan for the renewal of the Garden State Preservation Trust, New Jersey's nearly-empty fund for preservation and park creation.

Our parks, historic sites and natural areas are integral to the state's economy and ensure a high quality of life in our state. Wildlife-watching, hunting and fishing alone bring in $3.9 billion each year. These area also important places where families can go to spend time together, exercise, and enjoy the outdoors. Our low- and middle-income families are especially dependent upon these public open spaces because they do not have access to private facilities that our higher-earning residents enjoy.

Resolving New Jersey's budget crisis by cutting funding for the DEP does not make economic sense. The DEP is 90% self-sustaining, with only 10% of its budget coming from general state funds. In fact, we will lose important revenues from park fees, permit fees and fines and damage our growing ecotourism industry if we make these cuts. These cuts will also result in the inability of our state to provide the matches required to receive federal dollars for conservation work, further exacerbating the budget crisis. This is not a sound strategy for getting the state back on track fiscally.

New Jersey voters have repeatedly approved funding for parks and open spaces, even during difficult fiscal times. Less than six months ago, we approved a $200 million bond issue to fund the state's open space, farmland, and historic preservation programs, even while denying two other funding requests. Clearly this is a priority for the people of New Jersey. I urge you to honor that priority by voting NO on any budget that includes the proposed cuts and passing legislation this spring to renew the Garden State Preservation Trust.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

[fiberisgoodforyou]

Freehold Boro is closely linked historically and some what economically to the Monmouth Battle Field.

Now Governor Corzine is planning on simply pulling the plug and closing this most historic open space.

As Freehold Boro residents, we all must know that is not just a state park. The Monmouth Battle Field is a pivotal historic battle ground which leads to a victorious American Revolution.

We all know of Molly Pitcher and the role the Hall of records played, but there is an even richer significance to our home town, Freehold Boro…..,

Well Before the historic Battle of Yorktown where British Major General Lord Charles Cornwallis surrendered to Continental Army General General Washington,…. just over a mile away from were WE CALL HOME, at OUR Monmouth Battle Field…, is where Continental Army General Washington and engaged in battle for the first time against British Major General Lord Charles Cornwallis (Kinda like Patton vs. Rommel or Ali Vs Frazier) resulting not only in the longest single battle of the Revolution, but the Battle of Monmouth is first retreat from battle of the Kings Troops under the command of British Major General Lord Charles Cornwallis.

AND NOW….
One in five New Jersey state parks would be forced to close at the height of the summer season and 80 parks workers would be laid off as part of cost-cutting measures forced by Gov. Jon S. Corzine's austere budget.
The Department of Environmental Protection is proposing to close nine state parks entirely, slash services at three more, and reduce offseason hours at all 42 sites.

"These cuts are very significant," said DEP Commissioner Lisa Jackson, who delivered the bad news this morning to park supervisors and union officials who represent the workers.

"I wouldn't want to minimize the impact on families who have used the parks, sometimes for a generation, and workers who care about the parks," she said. "These are painful decisions."

The list of parks slated for closure includes five in the Skylands region and two each in the Shore and Delaware River regions. Hours and services at three others would be drastically reduced. Parks targeted to close include High Point State Park and Round Valley Recreation Area in the north, Monmouth Battlefield State Park at the shore and Parvin State Park in the south.

The proposed closures would save about $4.5 million in salaries and maintenance, a small portion of the governor's proposed $33 billion budget, which looks to slash $2.7 billion to help fix the state's troubled finances.

Corzine said closing parks is part of a "whole host of choices that are painful through and through."

"These are tough choices," he said Tuesday. "While they're important services for the public, everything needs to be on the table."

Legislators must agree to Corzine's budget plan; the state constitution requires a balanced budget be adopted by July 1.

New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the nation and among the most financially troubled. It has the highest property taxes in the country, which average $6,800 per property owner — twice the national average.

Jackson said the DEP could not reach Corzine's mandated spending cuts for her department without closing parks.

She said the DEP looked at attendance, revenue, nearby similar services and whether a park could be effectively closed before making the list.

Some 17 million visitors use New Jersey parks and forests each year for camping, swimming, hiking, boating, picnicking and more. The parks slated for closure had 2 million visitors last year, according to the DEP.

Environmentalists say the modest fiscal savings are not worth the quality-of-life trade off.

"We have too many people in government who don't understand how important parks are for the people of New Jersey," said Jeff Tittel, executive director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. "Not everybody can have a house on Long Beach Island or the Hamptons. This is where people go on their vacations."

Tittel called the park closings "shortsighted," saying that outdoor recreation generates $3.9 billion yearly for the state's economy.

Carla Katz, president of Communications Workers of America Local 1034, which represents some park workers, called the cuts "wrongheaded" and "draconian."

"Closing treasured state parks and cutting the jobs of the hardworking state workers who staff them is a grave injustice and remarkably shortsighted," Katz said.

The layoffs would affect full-time park rangers and supervisors, historic and natural preservation specialists, and clerical and maintenance staff. Seasonal workers would not be hired for the affected areas, but no park police or fire rangers would lose their jobs, Katz said.

Jackson said only Island Beach State Park operates at a surplus. However, she said the DEP was reluctant to raise fees for parking and camping because the parks are typically used by people of modest means.
The list of nine New Jersey state parks that would close under Gov. Jon S. Corzine's proposed budget:

— Monmouth Battlefield State Park, 2,928 acres, Monmouth County. Visitor center, restrooms, closed.

[admin]

My first question is, if this is another one of Corzines temper tantrums. I know the state is in dire straights, but how serious is this?

And seeing Karla Katz, Corzines former flame, talking tough is laugh-able. She and the other union heads are a major part of the problems we face.

[novillero]

The parks are hopefully saved...

www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080416/NEWS/804160458/1001/NEWS&source=nletter-news

Budget ax likely to spare parks, Agriculture Dept.
By RICHARD PEARSALL • GANNETT NEW JERSEY • April 16, 2008

CHERRY HILL — Gov. Corzine expects to restore some of the $190 million in state aid to municipalities that he has proposed cutting as part of his austere budget for the next fiscal year.

In a meeting with the editorial board of the Courier-Post of Cherry Hill, the governor also said that it's likely the state Department of Agriculture will be saved.

"No one's going to go on the cross on that one," the governor said of his proposal to save $500,000 by closing the Agriculture Department.

"It's pretty obvious," the governor said, when asked if cuts to municipal aid and the Agriculture Department, and the closing of nine state parks, were likely to be reversed in the horse trading over the budget with the Legislature between now and July 1.

All three of those cuts have met with howls of protest. The governor reiterated that any spending cuts restored by the Legislature must be replaced by reductions elsewhere.

"It is absolutely essential that we stay at $33 billion or less," he said, referring to his target for the total budget for the fiscal year that begins in July, "and that there are no new taxes."

And he said that the cuts he's proposed in this year's budget proposal — $500 million — are only the beginning of his efforts to get state spending and debt under control.

Next year's budget, he said, is going to "look like a kissing cousin of this one."

As he has done since February, when he delivered his budget address to the Legislature, the governor painted a grim picture of a state government that has borrowed and spent its way into a deep hole, producing only gimmicks and one-time fixes over the years to keep itself afloat.

"We are in the midst of a fundamental restructuring of our finances," the governor said. "We have to stop using borrowing as a basis for saying we have a balanced budget."

He got taxpayers' message

The governor expressed his support for a constitutional amendment that would extend to government authorities, not just the Legislature, the requirement that borrowing be submitted to voters for approval.

When he went on the road to sell his proposal to raise highway tolls, the governor said, he got the message loud and clear from citizens that they want spending cuts instead.

Having proposed some of those cuts — $2.7 billion worth to offset inflation in other areas and still come out with a $500 million net saving — the governor has discovered that cuts aren't widely popular either.

The cuts "are not being met with a resounding chorus of praise," said Bradley Abelow, the governor's chief of staff. "What we've found is that every dollar has not just one person, but lots of people saying, "I need that dollar.' "

The governor noted that he has obtained concessions on health care from public employees and raised the retirement age from 55 to 60 for new hires.

"If we could have gotten more in an overall package, I would have liked to have done it," he said. "We made real inroads. We need to keep pressing on it."

"We're trying to cut our labor costs right now," the governor said at another point. "But I can't do what I did at Goldman Sachs and go fire 10 percent of upper management — 10 percent of this management — across the board."
____________________________________
I modified my post by highlighting 2 things I found particularly interesting in this article...

[ka19]

Please, Sir. May we please have some more?

[novillero]

I was able to talk to the curator of the Monmouth Battlefield a few days ago. The official word is that the park will definitely be open for the re-enactment on June 28-29 (the battle was on the 28th).

However, should the park close, it will close on July 1 (I didn't ask but I think the reason is that this is the beginning of the state's fiscal year). The irony is that the park will have to begin procedures to close it down on June 1 - further irony is the costs associated with closing down the park and patroling a closed park - they may exceed any potential savings (not including lost revenue to area businesses).

Anyway, I have been reassured that the re-enactment is safe.

[admin]

www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080424/NEWS/80424049

Monmouth freeholders hoping to save Monmouth Battlefield State Park


Monmouth County may come to the rescue of the Monmouth Battlefield State Park, which is included in Gov. Corzine's budget plan of closing nine state parks after July 1.

The Monmouth County freeholders plan to pass a resolution at their 7 p.m. meeting today in Little Silver urging the state to keep open Battlefield State Park, located in Manalapan and Freehold townships.

But Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry said negotiations with state officials have taken place where the county would take over most park operations to head off a
closing.

"We don't want to see that park closed,'' Burry said. "You can't put a lock on history.''

The nine park closings would save an expected $4.5 million, state officials have said, though Corzine has hinted of late the closings may be avoided.

The Battlefield park consists of 2,928 acres and its visitor center and restrooms would close, under the plan. The park has nine full-time employees and their positions would be eliminated, said Elaine Makatura, spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Makatura said the salaries in the current budget for the park come to $495,000. Burry said a shared arrangement could have the state pay some of the salary cost and absorb some or all of the pension and benefit costs and make maintainence equipment available to the county.

"We don't have any hard numbers yet,'' Burry said.

Burry said she has discussed the park's fate with DEP Commissioner Lisa Jackson.

"We talked about a possible brokering. We're open to any sensible discussion with the state,'' Burry said.

Makatura said, "Right now the department is looking at alternatives to closing parks and the governor realizes there's a strong sentiment to keeping them open.''

[novillero]

N.J. parks spared by budget ax
Other cuts unveiled; reduced debt a goal
By Jonathan Tamari • GANNETT STATE BUREAU • May 14, 2008

TRENTON — Gov. Corzine formally backed off or moderated some unpopular budget cuts Tuesday that would have hit state parks, the Department of Agriculture and small towns, but he also proposed a new round of spending reductions and insisted on using windfall tax collections expected this year to trim state debt, not fund programs.

The bottom line for the new proposed budget that would take effect July 1 is an additional $134 million spending reduction, on top of the $500 million overall cut Corzine proposed in May. Some proposed cuts have been discarded, but new ones have arisen.

In altering his plan, Corzine gave ground on some of the details and shrank the budget to $32.8 billion, but he held tight to principles he believes will reverse years of fiscal mismanagement and begin digging New Jersey out of its annual deficits. First, any unexpected revenues this year will not be used for more spending next year, and second, the state will cut debt, which consumes large chunks of taxpayer dollars every year.

"We're at a turning point," Corzine said. "We're not spending more than we're taking in, we are paying down debt and eliminating some of the broken features of history."

Windfall prophet

State Treasurer David Rousseau told lawmakers he anticipates a $533 million surplus above what was expected in the current budget year, ending June 30, but the money will go toward trimming New Jersey's debt, a move expected to save $130 million a year.

With that money set aside and a weak economy taking hold, Rousseau told lawmakers the budget beginning July 1 faces a new $159 million gap, requiring more paring, including a plan to charge Camden $800,000 for State Police patrols in the city. Irvington and rural areas also patrolled by state troopers would also pay a portion of those costs.

In the past, tax windfalls such as the one detailed Tuesday before the Senate budget committee have been used to offset unpopular budget cuts or tax hikes. Corzine's approach leaves several sharp cuts in place, including reductions to hospitals and colleges and proposed co-pays for Medicaid patients. He is still calling for early retirement incentives to cut the state work force by 3,000, an idea many lawmakers are dubious about.

Corzine's restrained approach drew praise from both Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, but some Democratic leaders said the money could be used to offset painful cuts.

Senate President Richard J. Codey, D-Essex, said in a statement he would like to see some of the new money used to eliminate the need for co-pays.

Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, D-Camden, said "we'll see" when asked if lawmakers would stick strictly to Corzine's outline for how the new money should be used.

"This is about honoring our priorities," Roberts said in a telephone interview. "Debt reduction and property tax relief have to be top priorities, but we have to be careful not to decimate programs that people depend on."

The governor conceded on several points. Rousseau said the administration would ease municipal aid cuts aimed at small towns with fewer than 10,000 people and ensure that no town takes a hit from reductions in the main category of aid that would exceed a $100 tax hike on an average home.

The $15 million municipal aid restoration, however, would be nearly matched by new cuts to other aid programs. Other reductions in support for towns will remain.

Parks and Agriculture

Parks may curtail some services but will stay open by shifting resources, Rousseau said. The Department of Agriculture will remain in place but will have to trim $500,000 from its budget, an amount equal to the savings from eliminating the department outright.

The state will also add $10.8 million of support for charter schools, which argued that they were shortchanged under Corzine's original proposal.

Corzine is paying for the additions and closing the new budget gap with $70 million in cuts, saving on debt payments and through unspecified plans to boost lottery sales by $25 million.

Lawmakers, however, still have their say on the budget and other changes are likely.

Corzine indicated that he is likely to do away with proposed limits on the NJ STARS scholarship program, which sends top high school graduates to community college for free. He called STARS "very much" an issue "I'd be sympathetic with."

Corzine and lawmakers appear to be headed to a showdown over his early retirement plan, which Rousseau said would reduce government employment by 3,000, force the state to do less and save $135 million.

Lawmakers questioned whether the pension costs would outweigh the savings.

"The early retirement is putting a burden on an already overburdened pension system," Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, said.

Eliminating the buyouts, however, would require additional cuts.

Rousseau said 8,500 layoffs would be needed to match the savings of the early retirement program.

ON THE WEB: Visit our Web site, www.app.com, and click on this story to learn the latest developments and to join the online conversation on this topic in Story Chat.

Jonathan Tamari: [e-mail]
www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080514/NEWS/805140424/-1/&source=nletter-news