NJ Mayors Feel Squeeze of Tax Cap, Rising Costs

Mayors throughout New Jersey are telling lawmakers they're facing a financial squeeze.

Gov. Chris Christie's budget proposes keeping aid to towns at the same amount as this year.

But League of Municipalities President Janice Mironov says towns' costs are rising higher than the 2 percent cap that Christie imposed.

Mironov says costs for the state health insurance plan are going up 9.2 percent and other government-imposed fees are also set to rise.

The East Windsor mayor renewed her plea to the Senate Budget Committee Tuesday that a portion of the $700 million or so utilities pay each year to locate equipment and infrastructure on municipal land be returned to the towns.

As of now, the energy fees go into the state's general budget fund.

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