Yet Another Example of Fiscal and Environmental Mis-Management
As noted, we each pay a fee of $1.50 per tire to help pay for the proper disposal of old tire. Each year, this fee generates $9.2 million according to The Record.
You would think that this would be more than enough money to clean up the now new and growing tire problem. But, it seems that both prior and current administrations haven’t seen a pot of money that it does not like for whatever purpose it deems necessary…In this case, almost all of the money generated from 2005-2015 went for snow removal.
Now, as a matter of public policy, I generally agree with the proposition that the administration should have flexibility to move money in emergencies based on public need. However, hit seems that in this matter (and others as I have written), money is moved as a matter of convenience.
Here is the sequence…
- The money is dedicated to a fund to clean up tire.
- The administration does not allow the money to be spent on the dedicated program.
- The administration declares the money unused and allows it to be transferred to the general fund.
The result? tire piles growing and no money to pay for the clean up.
This is simply poor public policy.
Read the full article:
N.J. losing ground in fight against dumping of tire
I prosecuted illegal tire dump cases in the early 1990s on behalf of the state of New Jersey. A major problem then was that there was no tire disposal fee collected upon purchase of tires. Now, funds are collected for proper disposal but it does citizens no good if the State diverts those funds for other uses. Abandoned tires cause environental pollution and health risks including mosquito-born diseases, lung ailments and cancer. Like the funds collected to promote clean energy that are being diverted to the detriment of the public, the funds for proper tire disposal should not be siphoned off for other uses– they should be dedicated to their intended use.
It seems that making political points is more important than governing.