ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5857

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 19, 2025

The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 5857.

      As amended and reported by the committee, this bill authorizes the State Treasurer, on behalf of the Department of Transportation, to sell and convey to Mercer County, a 1.3 ± acres parcel of land and all improvements thereon located on Lamberton Street in the City of Trenton, Mercer County.  The bill also authorizes the State Treasurer, on behalf of the Department of Environmental Protection, to sell and convey to Mercer County, a 26.3 ± acres parcel of land and all improvements thereon located at 350 Lawrence Station Road in the Township of Lawrence, Mercer County, also known as the Mercer County Fire Academy Dempster Fire Training Center.  These properties have been declared surplus to the needs of the State. 

      The State House Commission will set the terms and conditions of the sales.  Each property will be required to be used for a public purpose, and any federal restrictions on the property’s use will remain after the transfer of ownership.  The property in the City of Trenton has been negotiated to be sold at a price of one dollar as a direct sale to Mercer County.  The property in the Township of Lawrence has been negotiated to be sold at a price of one dollar as a direct sale to Mercer County. 

      The parcel located on Lamberton Street has been used by the Department of Transportation as a lot for vehicles and equipment.  The Mercer County Fire Academy provides training to fire and EMS personnel in the Mercer County region.  The academy is a division of Mercer County Community College.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to delete a reference to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development with regard to ownership of the Mercer County Fire Academy Dempster Fire Training Center and to replace it with a reference to the Department of Environmental Protection, thereby reflecting the correct ownership of that parcel.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Office of Legislative Services concludes that this bill will result in a one-time revenue increase to the State Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund of two dollars for the sale of the surplus property to Mercer County.  Mercer County will experience a concurrent one-time expenditure increase of two dollars.