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In 2009 it is estimated that overall unemployment in NJ will increase substantially. Please indicate which of the following statements best bescribes your company. My company expects to keep current workforce levels. 52% My company plans to reduce our workforce. 5% My company has already reduced employee levels and we expect more layoffs to come 20% My company has not been negatively effected by this economy and we will be hiring employees in 2009 24%	The Economic Development Committee of the MRC is planning to produce an Economic Seminar with a panel of Bankers and Commercial Lenders. Is your business experiencing difficulty in accessing needed capital to grow and sustain your business ? YES, my bank has declined my loan request 36% YES, my business has been declined by 2 or more lenders 24% NO, my business has not experienced difficulty in borrowing capital 8% My business does not require any new capital at this time. 32%	Please assist the Chamber by answering the following statements. This information will be useful as the Chamber continues its efforts with our Crisis In Healthcare Initiative. My company offers health insurance benefits and pays > 50% of the premium 23% My company does not offer health insurance benefits 41% Health insurance premiums increased > 20% this past year 9% Health Insurance premiums remained stable 0% My company purchased a reduced benefit plan to avoid higher premiums 9% In the last 3-5 years, my company switched health insurance providers > 3 times 5% I am in favor of the current Universal Health Insurance Plans being discussed by the NJ Legislature 14% I do not believe Universal Health Insurance Plans will have any effect on quality and premiums 0%
Governor Corzine has laid out his Asset Monetization Plan for dealing with the NJ's overwhelming debt burden. The plan calls for a non political Public Benefits Corp to oversee toll road assets along with a predictable toll increase over a 75 year period providing the necessary bonding mechanism. Gov. Corzine believes we are in a crisis and must take action. Please indicate the statement that best describes your current view. While I dont want to see tolls increased by 50%, something must be done now so I do support the plan 15% I do not support the plan and feel the legislature should do what they were elected to do, control spending 33% Taking the control out of the political process is the only chance we have for success, I support the plan 8% I dont have any faith in the legislature's ability to deal with this but I cannot support increases in the tolls 10% Increasing the tolls is the fairest way to spread the burden as many non NJ people utilze the toll roads 10% I agree we need to take action now but would rather a multi faceted approach to raising revenue and reducing spending. 23%	The Meadowlands Racetrack has experienced recent reductions of patrons and horse teams, as both have been attracted to neighboring states who now offer gambling via Video Lottery Terminals (VLT's) resuling in higher race purses at their facilities. Knowing that this poses a serious threat to the Sports Complex operations and the horse racing industry in NJ, are you in favor of a modernization of the racetrack to include VLT gambling ? No, I am not in favor of VLT gambling at the Meadowlands 9% Yes, the Meadowlands Racetrack should install VLT's to compliment Horse Racing and improve operations. 91%	The Continental Airlines Arena which hosts a wide variety of sporting and family entertainment events is a critical component of Meadowlands Sports Complex. Are you in favor of sustaining the Arena for such events or should it be closed to allow the Newark Arena to be successful ? I attend many events at the Arena and strongly believe it should remain open 46% I attend only a few events per year but the Arena is very accessible and convenient for my family 33% I rarely attend events at the Arena so it does not matter to me 7% Close the Arena and build a venue which will provide greater economic value to the region. 13%
Now Poll Coming! No votes have been submitted yet.	Governor Corzine and his administration has led an effort to address NJ's fiscal crisis head on. He has asked the Legislature to meet over the summer and make serious changes to many areas of the budget that have been sacred ground. Do you believe the legislature will actually make the hard decisions the Governor is asking them to make ? Yes 20% No 80%	Knowing that close to 3 billion dollars in matching federal transportation aid for this region alone will be in serious jeapordy if the NJ legislature does not replenish the Transportation Trust Fund, and knowing that both mass transit and road improvements are critical for economic development and the quality of life here in the Meadowlands, which of the following solutions do you find the most acceptable ? Increase the Gas Tax ( NJ is currently one of the lowest in the nation)to fully replenish the Trust Fund 14% Sell off portions of the NJ Turnpike & Parkway to private operators 24% Tax the value of a vehicle upon purchase 3% Increase motor vehicle fees and dedicate them solely to the Trust Fund 0% Combine a modest increase of the Gas Tax ( 12.5 cents per/gal )with dedicated increased MV fees 17% Reconvene the Bi-Partisan Blue Ribbon Commission and mandate that the Governor and NJ Legislature accept and implement their new report. 41%
Which one of the following items would you say presents the most difficult challenge to growing and managing your business in the Meadowlands region. Hiring qualified employees 37% High cost of health insurance & benefits 37% Cost of leasehold property 4% Government Regulations & Fees 7% Traffic & Congestion 15%	The NJSEA has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Football Giants to build a new stadium in the Meadowlands. Having read about the details in the press are you in favor of this deal ? Yes, I believe the state did negotiate the best possible deal to keep the Giants here in the Meadowlands. 8% I am happy the Giants will remain in the Meadowlands but I think it will come at considerable cost to taxpayers 40% No, I believe the state caved in to political preasure. 28% I am unable to make an informed decision because all details have not been made public. 24%	The NJ Legislature being led by Acting Governor Codey has advanced a bill to raise the minimum wage by 2.00 over the next two years. How will this increase impact your business ? The minimum wage increase will have no impact on my business. 40% The wage increase will little impact my business. 10% The minimum wage increase will have a negative impact on my business. 30% This wage increase will severly impact the viability of my business. 20%
The NJ Legislature was recently handed a report from the Propert Tax Convention Task Force recommending a Tax Convention be placed on the ballot for NJ voters in November. In light of the fact that this proposal does not address government spending, would you still be in favor of this Tax Convention taking place? Yes, a Propert Tax Convention is still necessary. 0% No, It makes no sense to fund a Tax Convention that does not address spending reductions at all. 60% I am not aware of the details of this proposal to make an informed decision at this time. 40%