Ledger Live HD: Towns reject Sussex-Wantage merger, Christie needs to push harder with consolidation

Ledger Live for Friday November 13th, 2009 - Ledger Live with Brian Donohue. On today's show: We explore the tricky business of town consolidation in New Jersey. Last week, voters rejected a ballot measure that would have joined the Township of Wantage with the tiny town of Sussex Borough. Gov.-elect Chris Christie has criticized Gov. Jon Corzine for being too "ham handed" in pushing towns to merge. But he has also stressed consolidation and shared services as a key to his plan for controlling property taxes.  If two towns like Sussex and Wantage can't agree to join, will Christie have to push even harder to overcome New Jerseyans' love for home rule?

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Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• tvjersey
• sussex borough
• wantage township
• ledger live
• nj
• chris christie
• consolidation

[myshra3]

Part of the problem here, not only were the tax incentives not enough, as a former resident of the area, there is a particular stigma to the town of Sussex. The socio-economic differences are the reason. Sussex Borough is well known as a low-income transient town. Most small businesses don't last that haven't not been established for more than 20-30 years. People leave Sussex to go to Wantage.

[Cactusifyable]

NJ needs to WAKE UP! lol