May 16, 2014

Dear NJGCA Member:

Thank you for reading this week's NJGCA Road Warrior!

Here is what you will find in this edition:

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE: GREETINGS & SAL-UTATIONS! 

PARTICIPATION IN NJGCA'S CRIME RESEARCH SURVEY
GOVERNOR CHRISTIE'S POSITION ON RAISING THE GAS TAX
CRITICAL REMINDERS
POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH OVERFILL PROTECTION

This week, I read two very disturbing articles about violent crimes committed at New Jersey gas stations. In both cases the assailants carried guns, which were used to hit the attendants over the head, but luckily, no one was severely injured. To read about the May 8 robbery in Livingston, click here. To read about the May 12 robbery in Teaneck, click here. I bring these articles to your attention because they highlight the importance of the research project that NJGCA is doing with Professor Jon Shane and his research team at John Jay College.  We have mentioned this project to you a number of times, but you may not be taking it seriously because there is no imminent deadline. However, as these crimes become more prevalent, it is important for our organization to help keep you safe.  
 
We are fortunate to be working with Professor Shane, a former Police Officer, who is now a professor studying crime and criminology.  It is important to us to have your participation. Yes, some of you have responded, and we thank you very much, but we really need a much broader sampling from our members to help us collect the information necessary to put together a comprehensive analysis. So once again, I'm going to ask you. Please CLICK HERE and take five minutes to complete this survey.  If you have more than one location, we are going to ask you take extra time to fill the survey out for each location. It may seem overwhelming, but just filling out one survey at the beginning of the day, or one survey at the end of each day will accomplish exactly what NJGCA needs without taking up too much of your time. The results of this survey will inform NJGCA and the industry about new ways to reduce personal injury and harm associated with crime and violence, reduce economic loss due to crime, improve working conditions and quality of life, and enhance the relationship between gasoline station owners and employees and the police.  Please act now!
 
Moving on, I started to get nervous earlier this week when I heard Governor Christie say that he may reconsider his position on the gas tax. Ever since he’s been the governor of New Jersey, he has refused to even consider the idea of raising the state gas tax to pay for transportation repair projects, but during his monthly appearance on the "Ask the Governor" radio show, he seemed to suggest that his position might be shifting. The Governor has been under enormous pressure to fill an $800 million budget hole that was created back in 2013 as a result of President Obama's payroll tax increase. When President Obama increased payroll taxes in an attempt to avoid the "fiscal cliff," many high-income people were able to maneuver income into 2012 at a lower tax rate to avoid the increase. This impacted the amount of income that people paid State income tax on in 2013.  And when the State tax returns were submitted in April, the State realized that many people had shifted their incomes and left a gaping shortfall in what the State expected to collect. So now, the state needs to find $800 million before June 30th.
 
Up until now, Governor Christie has been our security blanket preventing the legislature from adopting an increase of the gas tax, but like I said, he has been under enormous pressure. Although I plan to oppose ANY gas tax proposal that is submitted, there may be some proposals that are better than others. There is no doubt that if the method proposed is a percentage tax that gets added to the sale at the gas pump, and requires attendants to COLLECT the tax, and station owners to REMIT the tax to the State, I will absolutely go to war against that proposal. Though NJGCA opposes ANY gas tax increase, this method would be particularly egregious and we would adamantly oppose it.
 
Finally, three brief reminders/updates for you:

1. The bill proposing a 75% tax rate on e-cigarettes will receive its first legislative hearing on Monday, in the Senate Health Committee. We will be in Trenton to oppose the bill, as will many others, but since the sponsor of the bill is the Chairman of the Committee, the bill will likely pass through. However, there will be at least three other opportunities for us to present our opposition to this bill, and when the time is right, we will need your help! Stay Tuned!
 
2. Membership Dinners are coming up on May 28th and June 3rd.  These evenings are the perfect opportunity to interact with your fellow business owners, meet the NJGCA Member Benefit Partners that support this organization, and learn how to improve your profits on gas and repairs in the simplest ways. You will enjoy dinner and a pleasant evening with your colleagues and Association Staff (and even a free drink if you arrive between 5:30 and 6:00 PM)!! CLICK HERE to go directly to the online registration and payment form!
 
3. The first big NJGCA PAC fundraiser is coming up on June 24th. It is a clay shooting event that is great for everyone, even if you have never held a gun before. You'll have the opportunity to relax, spend the day enjoying yourself with fellow small-business owners and the NJGCA staff, eat lunch, and support the important work that the NJGCA PAC does to help your small business. With critical issues currently being discussed, including the gas tax and e-cig tax, it is up to the NJGCA PAC to protect your interests.  We can't do that without your help!  For more information, please click here for the invitation and response form that you can print off and mail in with a check. YOU CAN REGISTER AND PAY FOR THE EVENT ONLINE BY CLICKING HERE! We also have a sponsorship form if you know of a business, corporation, supplier, or anyone that you work closely with who you think might be interested in supporting our cause. Please, join us as we work to influence positive changes and prevent destructive policies in Trenton!

Lastly, I learned this week that several of the locations that were purchased by dealers from Exxon under the Right of First Refusal have been found to be in violation of certain NJDEP regulations. It seems that the overfill “ball floats” that are supposed to be set at 90% of the tank volume were set at 95%. This has been overlooked by the compliance testing companies previously and is being treated harshly by NJDEP inspectors. All UST owners regardless of what brand you sell should make sure that the company that performs your compliance testing checks that these ball floats are properly set and calibrated to 90%. Please inform me of any instances that have been problematic at your location.

Thanks for reading -- See you next week!

Regards,
Sal Risalvato
Executive Director

CLASSIFIEDS! -- FOR SALE & HELP WANTED ADS 

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY!!

Well established family-owned gas and repair service station in Springfield, NJ. Serving the community for over 30 years, located on a well travelled main street.



We are looking for the following:

• A hard working, intelligent person with the desire to take their experience to the next level by working with me and eventually taking over the business for their own.

• You must be experienced in the automotive service industry, a licensed and/or certified mechanic, and have what it takes to own and operate your own business.

Please call 973-376-1416 to arrange an interview.

If you'd like to list your business for sale, publish a location you're selling, or are seeking a business partner for your establishment, please contact NJGCA at 973-376-0066!      

05/14/2014:
Is a Gas Tax Hike in NJ's Future?
When asked about the possibility of raising the gas tax, Governor Christie said he doesn’t want it and he doesn’t anticipate an increase in the gas tax, but then suggested it’s impossible to completely rule the idea out. “Definitively my answer has always been that I think there may be other ways to deal with this issue, but we also have to deal with rebuilding our roads, rebuilding our bridges,” the Governor said. “That’s a public safety issue. We do not want to have collapsing bridges, and crumbling roads that will cause injury to our citizens, so we’ve got to work together to figure out a way to pay for that.” He pointed out his administration has made significant spending cuts in many parts of the budget, but then said, “I know that we have to pay for continued improvements for our roads and bridges. We have to make sure that we have to money to be able to do that.” Democrats have proposed to gradually increase the gas tax over several years to generate funding for the Transportation Trust Fund.

05/14/2014:
China Push For Lower Emissions: Smaller, More Efficient Engines, Mild Hybrids
China may be the world's largest car market, but increased air pollution has created a public backlash against the automobile. It's also spurring the government to take action, and carmakers are likely to respond using the same suite of technologies that they use in the rest of the world to cut emissions and boost fuel economy: smaller, more efficient engines with direct injection, transmissions with more gears, and start-stop and perhaps mild-hybrid systems. New fuel-economy rules require new passenger cars to achieve 34 mpg by 2015, and 47 mpg by 2020. In addition to stricter fuel economy standards, China is also tightening its emissions standards, which are based on the European system. Euro 4 emissions standard took effect in China in July 2013, and the stricter Euro 5 standards will follow on January 1, 2018.  The push for fuel economy means China could become a major market for suppliers of fuel-saving technologies, such as direct-injection and mild-hybrid systems.
 
05/14/2014:
East Hanover, N.J., Gas Station Settles Sandy Suit
The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, with the assistance of the Division of Law, has settled price gouging lawsuits against a gas station and two hotels, which agreed to pay a total of $89,845.68 to resolve lawsuits alleging that these companies engaged in hundreds of incidents of unlawful price gouging in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. East Hanover Amoco Inc., dba C&M Exxon, East Hanover, NJ will pay $26,000, including $22,946 in civil penalties and $3,054 to reimburse the state's attorneys' fees and investigative costs. As set forth in the original complaint, East Hanover Amoco Inc. charged as much as $4.79 for credit-card sales of regular gasoline -- an increase of 26.3% above its price prior to the state of emergency.  The business allegedly charged as much as $5.09 for credit-card sales of premium gasoline -- an increase of 34.2% above the price prior to the state of emergency.
 
05/13/2014:
ACA to add up to $4 million annually to convenience store retailer's costs
As businesses across the country assess the additional costs resulting from eventual enforcement of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Susser Petroleum addressed the issue during its quarterly investor call last week, saying it is adding $3 to $4 million annually to the company's health care costs. Last spring, during the NACS State of the Industry (SOI) Summit in Chicago, presenters noted an industry trend toward hiring more part-time employees as a response to the ACA. Glenn Plumby, SOI presenter and vice president of operations for Speedway LLC, Enon, Ohio, said the number of employees per store reported in the NACS data is up 19.5%. And between 2009-2013, the number of employees per store went from 11 to 15.  Plumby attributes some of the activity to companies getting ready for the ACA. "Our part-time workers are up 32.2%," Plumby said. "In 2013, part time actually doubled what it was in 2010. We're reacting to ACA, [by adding] four more employees to the store. That costs money." Plumby also pointed to the pressure of an increasing minimum wage. He showed a map of the 20 states that have enacted minimum wage increases and an additional 17 considering it.  "When minimum wage goes up, it's not good for our industry," Plumby said.

TRAINING CLASSES!!
-ALL CLASSES WILL BE HELD AT NJGCA HEADQUARTERS-
66 Morris Avenue - Springfield, NJ 07081 (Union County)

In order to be licensed as a Motor Vehicle Emission Inspector, you must complete this course and pass a "Written Exam" given by the State of New Jersey. NJGCA offers this training in a ONE DAY State approved training program that will provide an understanding of inspection related issues including EPA Regulations, Safety, Diesel, Customer Service and the New Jersey State Specific Curriculum. This specially tailored NJGCA course fulfills all requirements.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER MESSAGE BOARD:

TMP Energy Solutions
Another Way to Save on Your Energy Bills

We have had a number of NJGCA members successfully reduce their rate per kWh signing up through our energy saving program. We know it's difficult to collect 12 months worth of previous electric bills to get an "accurate" analysis when comparing a variable rate to a fixed rate, but we now have another option available. 

This new solution is a power purchase option; the other program is still in full force and has saved members thousands of dollars. If you sign up for the power purchase option, you will be grouped with other NJGCA members until the minimum KW demand is acquired. By pooling the member's usage together, you will be able to take advantage, as large energy users do, and receive a lower kWh rate.

Each member will receive their own contract. Each member is responsible to sign and return the agreement the day it is received in order to secure the price for their group.

Please do your due diligence, so when you receive the proposal and the agreement you will be able to make an intelligent decision.

If by chance, you still want us to assess you bills, to give you a price to compare, we will require12 months of your most recent utility bills.

There are no bills required, but we would still like to have one bill per meter on file to check account #'s, meter #'s  service addresses and other pertinent information incase there is a problem.

The term of the agreement is for 12 months. During this term period, you will have price protection against any energy price increases along with a low fixed kWh rate.

If you are interested in becoming part of this power purchase option, please contact Greg Cannon at the NJGCA.

Remember when you sign up your energy through the NJGCA Energy Program, TMP makes a considerable donation to the NJGCA Scholarship Fund through their proceeds. This has no affect on your rate, and costs you nothing out of pocket.

We hope to help hundreds of NJGCA members reduce their utility costs by participating in this and our other cost reduction programs.  Our purpose, in the endeavor, is to help NJGCA members lower their energy costs while supporting the NJGCA Scholarship Fund. 

Contact GREG CANNON at 973-376-0066 or email Greg at greg@njgca.org. Mention that you are interested in saving money on your energy bills. NJGCA & TMP Energy Solutions will handle all the rest.