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5.01.2008

By Sarah Cranston
AFP Correspondent

TRENTON — New Jersey State Treasurer David Rousseau testified on April 16 before the Senate Budget Committee about Gov. Jon S. Corzine’s proposed budget for 2009.
Rousseau reiterated the fact that Corzine’s budget aims for $2.7 billion in spending cuts, including a reduction in the size and cost of government by $350 million. To accomplish this, the budget would eliminates three state agencies including the Department of Agriculture and reduce the workforce by 3,000 employees.
Rousseau noted that eliminating the NJDA would initially save the state $500,000 and “additional recurring savings exceeding the initial $500,000 will be achieved as similar functions are merged with other state departments.”
He said that eliminating the NJDA does not mean that the state “will somehow short-change the economic and cultural importance of the farming of this great state. ... There is no reason why we should lose this advocacy, state identity, and heritage by simply eliminating bureaucracy and the costs that go along with a departmental apparatus.”
Rousseau added that the administration believes the department’s “functions can be assimilated into other agencies to eliminate bureaucratic redundancy while at the same time retaining agriculture’s identity.”
The New Jersey Farm Bureau, state farmers and legislators have concerns about what eliminating the NJDA would mean for the agricultural community as well as the general population, and Rousseau addressed some of those fears.
He noted the importance of the Jersey Fresh campaign and said, “The aggressive marketing of New Jersey-grown and -raised products will continue. Many New Jersey branding efforts are now under the auspices of the Department of State. We are looking at how to best incorporate and coordinate Jersey Fresh into those activities and efforts.”
He added that preservation and conservation efforts of the state agricultural development committee will continue as key missions and functions under a likely renamed Department of Environmental Protection and said the DEP will also assume responsibilities for the NJDA’s chemistry and recycling efforts.
When budget committee members responded to Rousseau’s speech, Sen. Stephen M. Sweeney, D-Dist. 3, commented on the often-contentious relationship between the agricultural community and the DEP saying, “Merging with DEP is like putting the fox in charge of the hen house when it comes to agriculture. It is such an emotional issue when it comes to these two. Will you explain to me why the DEP? What’s the rationalization?”
Rousseau answered that some of the functions the two departments perform are the same and if the governor and legislature adopt a budget where the agricultural community relied on the DEP, then it would be up to the DEP commissioner,“to make sure the mindset of the DEP changes” and advocates for and listens to the agricultural community’s needs.
Other NJDA functions like inspections and licensing functions would be assigned to the Department of Health and Senior Services. Enforcement of milk-control laws would fall under the auspices of the Division of Consumer Affairs within the Department of Law and Public Safety.
Sweeney also expressed concern regarding the loss of federal grants as it has been estimated that the state could lose $5.5 million in federal funding.
Rousseau said that he has been assured the state would not lose the funding, though it is possible there would be a lag in the organic certification program.
Sweeney indicated he would feel more comfortable to see that promise from the federal government in writing.
Ed Wengryn, spokesman for the New Jersey Farm Bureau, attended the hearing and noted in general all of the senators’ questions were very pointed and said, “The senators tended to disagree with the treasurer and … had some serious questions.”
Wengryn feels it was clear that the committee was concerned and said Sen. Shirley K. Turner, D-Dist. 15, noted that she “doesn’t have a lot of farmers in her district, but showed concern regarding the school nutrition and lunch program, the Jersey Fresh program and the farmers’ markets” — adding “it’s important for people to have access to local fresh produce.”
After the hearing, Sen. Sweeney said he doesn’t think eliminating the NJDA makes a lot of sense.
“Our license plates say ‘The Garden State,’” he said. “It’s an identity issue. It’s like I’m changing your last name. You’re not ‘Smith’ anymore, you’re ‘Jones,’ and for what purpose? We can find a half-million dollars in a whole lot of places.”
When asked if he thought the governor would continue to push for the elimination of the NJDA, Sen. Sweeney said he didn’t think so.
“I think he’s going to move forward and restore it,” he said. “It’s not worth the half-million dollar fight to do potential long-term damage to an industry that brings millions of dollars into the state.”