Saving parks, Agriculture Department: Welcome news

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Saving parks, Agriculture Department: Welcome news

Published: Sunday, April 20, 2008

The good news is that Gov. Jon S. Corzine and Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr. have tentatively agreed not to eliminate the state Agriculture Department and close nine state parks this summer.

The bad news is that as much as $4.5 million will have to be cut elsewhere from the budget. That's the amount these two measures were expected to save the state. Corzine has insisted - and should continue to insist - that the overall spending plan not exceed his $33.3 billion proposal and not contain one-shot revenues, gimmicks or tax hikes.

The elimination of the Agriculture Department and the closing of state parks are widely unpopular. So, too, is Corzine's plan to eliminate state aid to towns with fewer than 5,000 residents in order to encourage consolidation - another proposal the Legislature is expected to soften. Critics contend, with some justification, that these cuts put an unfair burden on rural and suburban areas.

Eliminating the Agriculture Department would save a mere $500,000, since all of its functions would be transferred elsewhere.

Still, state Treasurer David Rousseau defended the proposed cut to a Senate committee last week: "$500,000 is $500,000," he said.

Yes, it is. And we generally endorse such thinking. But in this case, farmers made a convincing argument that the Agriculture Department is a well-run agency that is needed and valued by the state's farmers. Even nonfarmers can appreciate the success of its high-profile "Jersey Fresh" promotion. As we have said before, a far better case could be made for eliminating the State Department.

And here's an interesting bit of timing: Just the day before Corzine and Roberts made their announcement last week, Rousseau told a Senate committee that $7.3 million has been spent so far on legal fees and consultants in developing Corzine's stalled plan to increase highway tolls.

That's more than closing state parks and eliminating the Agriculture Department would have saved combined.

Rousseau added that he expects more will need to be spent - prompting Assemblyman Joseph Malone III, R-Burlington, to suggest legislation that would set spending levels for the administration as it continues to rework its plan to hike tolls and cut state debt.

That's an excellent idea. Certainly, expert advice is needed on plans as massive as Corzine's proposed debt restructuring. But caps and legislative oversight are appropriate. After all, $7.3 million is $7.3 million.