Over the last few days, word has been leaking out of Trenton that hidden in the latest budget figures is a plan by Governor Corzine to redirect $4 million of dedicated money from the Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund to the general fund. The EMT Training Fund has been running a deficit for Jon Corzine’s entire term, and now he’s going to completely gut it. Squads are already having trouble raising funds this year – taking away virtually all of their training money will shift the burden to the local taxpayers or force some squads to cut training or vital equipment. These cuts could have enormous ramifications when we dial 911.
I served as Glen Ridge’s Public Safety Commissioner from 1994 through 1998, so I know better than most how vital these squads are to our towns, and to our citizens. This $4 million cut was not in the Governor’s initial budget proposal, and I think he was trying to sneak it by all of us. These cuts will do serious damage to our squads, and will make it even more difficult for them to recruit new members and to keep the ones they already have.
Every New Jerseyan should e-mail, fax or call their state legislators and tell them that this is an outrage and is likely to have a significant negative impact on volunteer squads and their efforts to recruit and retain new members. Urge your legislators to publicly oppose this attempt by Governor Corzine to loot the EMT Training Fund.
