Kean & Ciesla Propose Amendment to Protect Shore Preservation Funds

October 7, 2008

Contact: Bill Murray / (609) 292-5199
Senator Andrew Ciesla (R-10), Senator Sean T. Kean (R-11)

Constitutional Amendment Will Prevent Diversions From Shore Protection Fund

Senator Sean Kean (R-11) and Senator Andy Ciesla (R-10) introduced a Senate Concurrent Resolution yesterday that would prevent the monies in the Shore Protection Fund from being diverted to pay for other state projects. Under the recently enacted state budget, $9 million was diverted from the $25 million a year fund to pay for other expenses. The Shore Protection Fund is financed primarily by the realty transfer fee.

“The current state budget has made it clear that more safeguards for the Shore Protection Fund are needed,” Kean stated. “This proposed amendment, if adopted, will provide the most rigorous protections for the vital Shore Protection Fund.”

In addition to dedicating $25 million annually to the Shore Protection Fund, the proposed constitutional amendment would prohibit any diversions from the account. The text of the amendment states: it shall not be competent for the Legislature, under any pretense whatever, to borrow, appropriate or use the amount or any portion thereof for any purpose or in any other manner other than, shore protection projects associated with the protection, stabilization, restoration or maintenance of the shore, including monitoring projects and land acquisition.

“The Jersey Shore is the engine that drives New Jersey’s $38 billion tourism industry. It also returns nearly $2 billion in revenue to the state treasury,” Ciesla continued. “Protecting this fund constitutionally is a common-sense manner of ensuring the state matching dollars for federal beach replenishment projects and guaranteeing the viability of the state’s tourism industry for years to come.”

Link to Post:

http://www.senatenj.com/index.php/ciesla/kean-ciesla-propose-amendment-to-protect-shore-preservation-funds/1281