Inquirer Poll: N.J. majority backs consolidating government

A majority of likely New Jersey voters support consolidating government services from the local to the county level, but their enthusiasm wanes somewhat when offered merger details, according to the latest Inquirer New Jersey Poll.

When asked simply whether they supported the idea of consolidating local government services, 52 percent statewide were in support, with 30 percent in opposition. South Jersey respondents expressed stronger opposition, with 49 percent supporting consolidation and 41 percent opposing it.

When asked whether they supported combining specific areas of government, such as police, firefighters, or schools, opposition grew, although the idea still won majorities or pluralities.

"There's something of a NIMBY thing going on," said Jeffrey Plaut, founding partner at Global Strategy Group, which coauthored the survey, referring to "not in my backyard." "Tax-weary New Jersey residents see some relief from consolidation generally."

He added, "It just becomes harder when people think about their own local services."

The bipartisan poll was conducted by Plaut's firm and a Republican polling firm, National Research. It was conducted between Oct. 23 and 25 using telephone interviews with 601 likely voters across the state. The poll's margin of error is 4 percentage points.

Supporters of consolidation and shared services, who include Gov. Christie and Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D., Gloucester), argue that merging services would lower property taxes, among the highest in the country. New Jersey has 566 municipalities, including some small boroughs surrounded by larger municipalities.

In 2011, voters agreed to merge Princeton Borough and Princeton Township. The action was estimated to save $3.2 million.

Opponents worry that mergers could diminish the quality of life in their towns. Would the schools become crowded? Would streets be poorly maintained, and would a county-level police and firefighting force mean longer response times?

Some towns have rebuffed efforts to consolidate. A merger study between Cherry Hill and Merchantville stalled after Cherry Hill elected a new mayor. Proponents had hoped to put the question to voters this fall. Merchantville, population 3,800, was once part of what is now Cherry Hill, population 71,000.

Wenonah, a borough of 2,285, voted down a plan in 2011 to dissolve its police force and contract for services with a larger neighboring town.

And in Camden County, officials are moving forward with a controversial plan to replace the Camden City Police Department with a county-wide force. Officials have begun the hiring process for new police officers, but a final shared-services agreement is still in the works. The City of Camden is the only participant in the force at this point.

Sweeney, who was freeholder director in Gloucester County before heading to the Statehouse, said towns that refuse money-saving plans to merge should be penalized. He has introduced a bill that would create a commission to study mergers and shared services. If towns refuse to accept the recommendations of the panel, the state would withhold aid equal to the amount of money merging services would have saved them.

The bill remains in committee.

When poll respondents were offered the pros and cons of consolidation, support fell to 49 percent and opposition rose to 39 percent. But among South Jersey voters, support increased to 53 percent and opposition fell one point, to 40 percent.

Plaut attributes the increased support in South Jersey to people's knowledge of Camden County's plans.

"In South Jersey specifically, people have heard this discussion a lot," he said.

South Jersey voters supported consolidation of elementary schools, police departments, and middle and high schools with wider margins than those interviewed statewide.

However, they did oppose one type of merger: firefighting services. Respondents rejected the idea by 51 percent to 41 percent.

Sean Driscoll, 45, of Browns Mills, said he supported consolidation of schools, administration, and police departments. But he wants a local firefighting force.

"You want local people who are going to defend their own stuff and protect their community," said Driscoll, a retired Air Force technical sergeant who worked in aircraft maintenance.