Hundreds attend Corzine toll plan meeting

HIGHTSTOWN, N.J. (AP) - February 9, 2008 The governor drew a mixed reception today from a crowd of more than 500 people in Mercer County.

Several people asked whether he's made enough budget cuts and whether the sharp toll increases would flood local roads with truck traffic.

But others said they understood that something needed to be done to repair the state's chronically troubled finances.

Corzine wants to use the toll money to pay off at least half of $32 billion in state debt and fund transportation projects for 75 years.

To do so, he wants to increase tolls 50 percent in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022. Those increases would include inflation adjustments and, after 2022, tolls would increase every four years until 2085 to reflect inflation.

He also wants to limit state spending and require voters approve state borrowing.

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