"What's the point in spending all that money on a mayor and clerk for 500 people?" he asked.

The merger would unite the smallest city in New Jersey, with a population of 530, with a growing township of 12,115, according to a 2006 estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau. The small town of woods and marshes would join the suburban spread of Upper Township.

The two municipalities share the Tuckahoe River and shore traffic from Route 50. In fact, the towns were once united, before Corbin City split in 1922, according to town officials. But today, they are separated by a county line; Corbin City is in Atlantic County while Upper Township rests in Cape May County.

Several meetings have taken place over the past few months between the two towns, the two counties and the state. The next step is interpreting the study.

"We're looking to reduce property taxes. Because of the lack of aid from Trenton, we're looking to consolidate," Corbin City Councilman William Collins said.

New Jersey's 2009 fiscal budget cuts about $154 million in municipal property-tax relief funding, according to the New Jersey State League of Municipalities.

Although not opposed to the annexation, Upper Township Mayor Frank Palombo says some hurdles remain.

"From our perspective, we haven't gotten much further than a few meetings," he said. "To say that we've progressed to the point where this is a definite would be premature."

Palombo outlined several major obstacles, including existing legislative statutes, redrawing county lines, school funding and government representation, among others.

Added taxes for Upper Township residents are another concern. "We're not looking for our residents to have additional expenditures," Palombo said.

Palombo awaits results from a feasibility study before merger plans progress any further.

But Palombo currently is focused on the de-annexation - not the annexation - of a town. Upper Township's Strathmere section is seeking to become part of Sea Isle City. He says neither situation affects the other, though.

"We're going to approach this positively, but also fiscally," he said. "We have a responsibility to the township."

Theodore Kayiales, owner of the Tuckahoe Dinner in Upper Township, said many residents' main concerns were with taxes.

"If it makes everything better, then I'm for it," he said. "But I don't think we should pay for the other town's mistakes."

The Rev. H.J. Lovett, of Main Street in Corbin City, opposes the move.

"It's the worst thing that could ever happen," he said.

A son of a two-term mayor, Lovett's family has lived in Corbin City since the 1940s. Today, he presides over the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, a church in his house.

"A town used to be like an extended family," he said. "It is very definite that these people will lose the power to self-govern."

Lovett called for people to learn more about the process.

"They need to recognize what is going on: centralization," he said. "The power of the government is in the hands of the few."

Corbin City includes $30 million in taxable property to be added to Upper Township's tax base.

Estimates on when a potential consolidation or annexation could occur depend on the study, officials from both towns said. A final decision would involve either votes by the governing bodies of both municipalities or a public referendum.

E-mail Sam Fran Scavuzzo:

SScavuzzo@pressofac.com