SUPPORTS NJ SENATE BILL 929 AND ASSEMBLY BIL 2061 SPONSORED BY SENATOR JEFF VAN DREW AND ASSEMBLYMEN NELSON ALBANO AND MATT MILAM WHICH WOULD PROVIDE PARITY FUNDING TO MAURICE RIVER TOWNSHIP FOR HOSTING BAYSIDE STATE PRISON AND SOUTHERN STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.

For several years, ending in the mid-1990's, Maurice River Township received a mere $72,000 per year in PILOT funding for hosting two of the largest prisons in New Jersey, namely, Southern State Correctional Facility and Bayside State Prison.  Based on the per capita residency of inmates, this equated to around $13.00 per inmate.  Then, with the introduction of COMPTRA funding, specific earmarks for PILOT funding for host communities went away and Maurice River Township received no further PILOT funding as a host community. 

By comparison, the City of Bridgeton received over one-million dollars per year for hosting a state prison and based on a per capita rating, this equates to $300.00 + per inmate.  Also, it is our understanding that Camden continues to receive funding as a host community, reportedly over one-million dollars per year for a prison which has been closed.

It should also be noted that Bayside and Southern State sit atop 1,600 acres of prime land which for any other purpose would be used to support ratables such as housing and industry.

Also, whenever a fire erupts at the prisons, it is the firefighters and equipment of Maurice River Township volunteer fire companies which respond.

It is obvious that the state has taken a free ride on the backs of the residents of Maurice River Township for far too long and we ask your support in championing a fairness doctrine for all host communities within the state.

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