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Wantage Municipal Attorney Files Complaint to Keep NJSP 8/5/08 CONTACT: Heather Donnelly Sparta, NJ --- Michael Garofalo, Esq., Partner at the law firm Laddey, Clark & Ryan of Sparta New Jersey, and Wantage Township municipal attorney, has announced that Wantage will be challenging a portion of the State Appropriations Act, a recently enacted law which would require Wantage to pay for State Police services or form its own police department. Garofalo will be filing a complaint with the New Jersey Council on Local Mandates. The council is a unique body which is independent of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of State government. The Council has the exclusive Constitutional authority to rule that a State law, rule or regulation, imposes an unconstitutional “unfunded mandate” on municipalities. If the Council rules in favor of Wantage Township, that portion of the law requiring payment for State Police services will cease to be mandatory and, in effect, will expire. “With estimates in excess of $2 million, it is impossible for Wantage Township to form its own police department, nor can the Wantage tax payers fund State Police services in 2009 at a cost in excess of $488,000,” Garofalo said. “The State Police have been around for over 80 years, why are we cutting their services now!” Wantage is the first Sussex County municipality to challenge the mandate to pay for State Police coverage. Garofalo and Laddey Clark & Ryan are hoping that by fighting this mandate instead of coming up with an alternative, other effected municipalities will take note and join the fight. “No doubt the other Sussex County municipalities utilizing the State Police would face financial disaster if this law is not invalidated, adds Garofalo. "I would urge the other Sussex County municipalities utilizing the State Police to file their own complaints.” For more information please contact Michael Garofalo at mgarofalo@lcrlaw.com.
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