Sarlo Lauds Infrastructure Support for Local Government

Renewed TTF Delivers Aid to Municipalities & Counties

TRENTON – The state’s Transportation Trust Fund that was restructured to ensure direct support to local government has succeeded in delivering increased aid to municipalities and counties said Senator Paul Sarlo, one of the chief architects of the plan.

The agreement renewing and increasing TTF funding starting with the 2018 Fiscal Year budget effectively doubled state aid to counties and municipalities to $400 million for highway and bridge repairs, pedestrian safety and other infrastructure needs. Since then, the state has invested nearly $1 billion into total local aid, noted Senator Sarlo, the chairman of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

“When we renewed the TTF with dedicated funding to support the infrastructure work that is so important to New Jersey, we made sure that a large portion of state aid would go directly to local government,” said Senator Sarlo, who also serves as Mayor of Wood-Ridge. “Municipalities and counties need this support to repair, upgrade and maintain their roads and bridges. This funding also helps to offset property taxes.”

The state just announced the allocation of $161 million in transportation grants to 537 municipalities for the current fiscal year. (Click here for this list of Municipal Aid grant awards.)

“There are more roads managed by local government than by the state so the ability to repair, rebuild and upgrade the infrastructure at the local level is important,” said Senator Sarlo. “The sustained funding in the TTF plan allows local government to plan for infrastructure projects knowing that the support is there.”