MORRIS COUNTY — Drivers will pay an extra 9.3 cents per gallon on gasoline and diesel fuel when the gas tax is raised on October 1, the state treasurer announced.

The gas tax will increase — from 30.9 cents to 40.2 cents for gasoline and 34.9 cents to 44.2 cents for diesel fuel — to generate enough money to support the state’s Transportation Trust Fund under a 2016 law signed by former Governor Chris Christie. The increase will ensure compliance with the 2016 law that requires a steady stream of revenue to support the state’s Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) program

After Governor Phil Murphy announced a stay-at-home order in March and closed nonessential businesses to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, residents spent less on gasoline and fuel. The Treasury Department estimated that gasoline consumption declined 38.7% from March to May, and diesel fuel declined by 16.5%.

Under the 2016 law signed by former Governor Chris Christie, New Jersey’s TTF program is required to provide $16 billion over eight years to support infrastructure improvements to the state’s roadways and bridges. As a means of guaranteeing that the state has the necessary funds to support these projects, the law outlines that the Petroleum Products Gross Receipt (PPGR) tax rate must be adjusted accordingly to generate about $2 billion annually.

MORRIS COUNTY — The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development submitted an application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Lost Wages Supplemental Assistance (LWA), which provides limited additional benefits to many of the state’s unemployed workers.

LWA allows for temporary supplemental financial support to those whose jobs or wages have been adversely affected by COVID-19. LWA provides up to $300 per week to eligible individuals, in addition to the weekly benefit amount they receive from other unemployment compensation programs.

In New Jersey, the first tranche of the federal grant would provide up to $300 per week to claimants collecting unemployment for the weeks of August 1, August 8, and August 15. Only people whose unemployment is COVID-related are eligible, under terms of the memorandum the President issued on August 8. Additionally, those receiving less than $100 in weekly unemployment benefits are excluded from the supplemental benefit.

“We are looking into every option to ensure that every single penny will be in pockets of countless New Jersey families seeking benefits,” said Governor Murphy. “However, even as we do this, we still need the federal government to reauthorize the $600 federal unemployment benefit to ensure that we provide the financial security desperately needed during this pandemic.”

“We will always do whatever we can to get more money into the pockets of our unemployed workers,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “But, it’s important to note that this is not an extension of the successful federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program, which provided an extra $600 to everyone receiving unemployment. LWA will end as soon as the funds dry up, it excludes some of our lowest-wage earners and part-time workers, and, perhaps most importantly, adds another layer of red tape that workers in need have to cut through.”

Of the states that have applied, 93 percent have sought grants at the $300 level, which the federal government pays, rather than kick in an extra $100, which would have cost New Jersey approximately $80 million a week.

As of Tuesday, FEMA had approved 28 states’ applications for $300 payments and 2 states’ applications for $400 payments. One state, South Dakota, has declined to participate.

This new program must be created from scratch, and run separately from New Jersey’s existing state and federal unemployment programs. This is not something New Jersey or any state will be able to do quickly or easily.

“This is not the answer for unemployed workers around the country who have been hit hard and fast by COVID-19. It is our hope that Congress extends the $600 supplement so that workers, especially those in high cost-of-living states like ours, can keep food on the table and a roof over their heads until we can get beyond COVID and they can get back on their feet,” Asaro-Angelo said.

The FEMA grant has a spending cap of $44 billion. Once the allocation is exhausted, benefits will end. Thus, states must reapply after the first three weeks, giving FEMA the opportunity to calculate the program’s remaining balance after the first round of grants. The program also would be halted if FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund balance drops below $25 billion.

MORRIS COUNTY —  The Morris County Board of Freeholders and county Office of Emergency Management officials released data showing a 95% drop in COVID-19 cases since a devastating April peak and the launch of a highly successful county mobilization of local resources to combat the pandemic spread.

The board emphasized that the results should not be a cause for any residents to stop following safety precautions or guidelines on socially distancing as the pandemic continues. But the board applauded the data, which indicates Morris County went from a daily average of 210 cases on April 13 down to a current daily average of 10 cases. Recent daily reports have shown cases trending further downward, and Atlantic Health System reported today having only two COVID-19 patients being treated at Morristown Medical Center.“Looking at this impressive decline in cases, we have to acknowledge the remarkable response coordinated by the county and local emergency and health authorities to this crisis, and the effective impact they have had,” said Freeholder John Krickus, who publicly presented the data at a public freeholder meeting.

Additional data charts are available by clicking here.

“This is very encouraging data and a testament to Morris County’s swift and direct response. We immediately worked with local health officials when the crisis began in March, we connected with medical facilities in the area and we brought on more public health staff to meet the challenge – all while managing to keep essential county operations, such as road and bridge repair projects, going,” said Freeholder Director Deborah Smith.“We also established a testing center for our residents, and we expect to continue our testing efforts – expanding into at-home testing as well as establishing mobile testing — with a portion of more than $7 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) funding secured last week through the Governor’s office.”

Morris County spent $3.8 million in its response to COVID-19 this past spring without any assurance of reimbursement by the federal or state government, but federal and state authorities are providing a portion of the $7 million in CARES aid to cover the expenses. Another $3.3 million will be used for testing moving forward, until June 2021.

“The county’s objectives were to protect the health of Morris County residents and, in the process, allow for the reopening of businesses and other enterprises ordered to shut down by the Governor. We are pleased the efforts have been recognized, and that a large portion of the federal CARES dollars will be put toward reimbursement,” said Director Smith.

Through a COVID-19 Recovery Task Force created by the freeholders to address the pandemic’s impact on community-based organizations and businesses, the county announced on August 13 that it would begin to provide infrared thermometers to community-based organizations and faith-based groups for use at gatherings that follow state social distancing and face-covering guidelines.

“We began with 300 thermometers, and I’m pleased to announce that, in just two weeks, we have approved 120 of the devices for distribution to a very diverse group of organizations spread throughout Morris County,” said Freeholder Tayfun Selen. “We will continue to call attention to the program until we get all 300 units out to the groups who request and need them. I also want to say that the Morris County Sheriff’s Office has been an incredible partner, hand-delivering each unit to the community-based and religious organizations who need them.”

To learn more about Morris County’s initiatives to address COVID-19 since February and other significant announcements about the virus in New Jersey click here.

PARSIPPANY — U.S. Reps. Elissa Slotkin (MI-08) and Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) today welcomed commitments they received from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, to protect the military’s apolitical status, avoid military involvement in the election process, respect the peaceful transition of presidential authority under the Constitution and refuse to obey any unlawful orders.

Milley’s answers came in response to questions Slotkin and Sherrill submitted following a July hearing of the House Armed Services Committee on military involvement in civilian law enforcement, and in the wake of comments and actions by President Trump suggesting he might seek to use active-duty forces for domestic political purposes. Sherrill was able to address some, but not all, of these issues during the hearing. Slotkin and Sherrill submitted their questions for Milley and to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper; Esper has yet to respond.

Among Milley’s commitments:

• Asked about the possibility of officials trying to use the military for partisan political gain, Milley said, “I believe deeply in the principle of an apolitical U.S. military” and committed to obey all lawful orders and to refuse to obey any lawful order.
• Asked if there are any circumstances under which he would deem it necessary to send the U.S. military to polling places, Milley answered that, “State and Federal governments have qualified individuals who oversee” elections and that, “I do not see the U.S. Military as part of this process.”
• Milley confirmed that disputes over election outcomes must be resolved by civilian authorities, saying, “In the event of a dispute over some aspect of the elections, by law U.S. courts and the U.S. Congress are required to resolve any disputes, not the U.S. Military.… We will not turn our backs on the Constitution of the United States.”

Article II of the Constitution of the United States vests the power of the Presidency in one President and gives Congress the authority to certify his or her election. The Uniformed Code of Military Justice requires members of the U.S. military to obey orders from the congressionally-certified President.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, First Assistant Prosecutor Thomas A. Zelante, and Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Meg Rodriguez announces the hiring and swearing-in of Taylor S. Sharofsky as an Assistant Morris County Prosecutor.

Assistant Prosecutor Sharofsky was officially given her oath of office on August 24, 2020, by the Hon. Thomas J. Critchley, Jr., Criminal Division Judge.

Assistant Prosecutor Sharofsky will be assigned to the Pre-Trial Services Unit. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Pennsylvania State University and graduated from New York Law School following her undergraduate studies.

Prior to joining the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office as a Legal Assistant, Assistant Prosecutor Sharofsky worked as a Law Clerk for the Appellate Division and Superior Court, Criminal Division, Morris/Sussex Vicinage.

Prosecutor Knapp said, “We are excited to have Assistant Prosecutor Sharofsky join our team of Assistant Prosecutors here at the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office. I am confident that she will serve honorably and will benefit the residents of Morris County.”