The fiscal burden of car culture

Morris county politicians are speaking up about proposed state budget cuts that hit them exactly where it hurts.

Morris County Freeholder Frank Druetzler estimated Monday that it could cost the county $120,000 to $130,000 a year to pick up deer carcasses along county and municipal roads.
The county must now begin to plan how to pay for the service since it seemed clear the state Department of Transportation would stop picking up dead deer in September. The DOT trimmed the estimated $700,000 for deer removal from its 2007 budget plans.

$700,000 a year to pick up dead animals?

County engineer Steve Hammond said some specialized equipment would be needed --specifically, a deer-sized clam-shell scoop and lining for trucks that would be used to transport the carcasses so that fluids would not escape the truck. The deer could be disposed of at a landfill.

But who is ultimately responsible for the problem?

"This is a state obligation. The animals killed belong to the state."

Oh, the state. I thought it might be the drivers who ran them over. I had no idea that urban taxpayers were footing the bill for these suburban welfare drivers. I’d be pissed if I didn’t drive on the animal carcass-free roads of Morris County every day.