October 17, 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! 

PROPOSAL TO APPLY 7% NJ SALES TAX TO GASOLINE
THE MARKETPLACE AND YOUR MARGINS!
4 MEN INDICTED FOR FALSIFYING EMISSIONS TESTS
NJGCA EFFORT TO EXPAND NJ GENERATOR GRANT PROGRAM
BREAKFAST MEETING IN BORDENTOWN ON OCTOBER 28TH!

I want to start this week's message with my reaction to a recent news story which discusses the possibility that New Jersey's 7% sales tax would be applied to gasoline purchases, in order to help raise revenues for the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund. I want to assure all of my members that this is a HUGE concern to me.  I understand how much of a burden it would be for my members to have the extra responsibility of adding the 7% tax to the gasoline purchase and then setting that money aside to remit to the state on the 20th of the following month. This would be a back-breaker for our members, and I will make it a priority of this organization to prevent this from happening!

Next, I want to continue my discussion of the marketplace. As retailers, you are used to engaging in price wars with your competition to have the lowest price on the street. I want to continue to encourage you to use this opportunity to protect your margins and generate some revenue. When prices start to stabilize, you won't have the luxury of these margins anymore, so put some extra cash away now, while you still can!  DO NOT ENGAGE IN A RACE TO THE BOTTOM! 
 
Right now, the price war SHOULD NOT be happening on the street. It is happening at the racks, and it is working to YOUR benefit.  While the refiners continue to lower prices at the rack in an effort to maintain volume, YOU are in a position to benefit.  Ride the prices down slowly.  It is pure supply and demand. Supply continues to be abundant and demand is flat (at best). The EPA this week was bragging about the dramatic effect that stricter mileage standards have on the consumption of gasoline. As long as consumption stays flat or reduced, and supplies remain abundant, we will continue to see the price war occurring UPSTREAM, when we are so used to living with it ourselves. That should relieve some of the pressure from the retailers, and give you a chance to build in some extra profits.  TAKE ADVANTAGE.  How low will the prices go...? I don't know.  I honestly never thought we would see the prices fall this far, but this week has seen some huge drops and they just continue to duke it out at the racks.  CASH IN NOW!
 
I also recently read a news story about four operators of an inspection facility who were indicted for falsifying emissions tests in Paterson. We strongly condemn this practice. It is this very thing, instances like this (which happen more often than you think) that have been the biggest road block to our efforts to get the Parsons lanes closed and have all inspections come to private shops! Situations like this have been thrown in my face for five years, and they are hard to argue against! Although these guys are innocent until proven guilty and have been indicted, not convicted, if they are found guilty, I want them to be punished to the fullest extent of the law.  These kinds of crooks and criminals have caused YOUR eye to be blackened and made the fight for privatized inspection that much harder!
 
One note on the NJ Generator Grant Program: we will be meeting with officials in two weeks, and we're hoping to replant the seeds that would reopen the program with different standards, which would allow more people into the program... My calculation is that only about $2 million of the $7 million available has been approved, thus far. Rather than see that money left on the table, I would like to see the program expanded so that it may include more of you. I'm working on it, and I'll keep you informed.
 
Finally, we're hosting another Diner Tour meeting at the end of this month, in Bordentown. This meeting will be convenient for our members in Mercer and Burlington counties, but it is open to anyone who may be in the area that day.  As always, the meetings start at 9:30 AM and provide a great opportunity for members to engage in intimate, roundtable discussions with other small business owners, and NJGCA Staff.  I provide an update about some of the issues affecting the industry today and in the future (gas prices, self-serve, the NJ inspection program, closure of the centralized inspection lanes, minimum wage, paid sick leave, tobacco issues, etc), and YOU ALL ENJOY A FREE BREAKFAST.  One member at each meeting also wins a $50 gift card. I've included a picture of the $50 winner from this week's meeting! We hope to see you there.  Look out for more information next week!

That's all for now.  Thanks for reading.  See you next week!

Regards,
Sal Risalvato
Executive Director

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

NJGCA is pleased to offer the NJ Emission Technician Education Program, starting Nov. 3rd. This is the ETEP Certification Course, the entire program, sections 1-7. This is everything you need to become a licensed Emission Repair Technician. Tests are given throughout the course and technicians that pass will receive a certificate stating that they successfully completed the New Jersey Emission Technician Education Program (ETEP). NJGCA has provided this program to the NJ Department of Transportation, UPS and NJGCA Members throughout New Jersey.  Our pass rate in this class is 100%.

NJGCA is also offering the Emission Repair Technician RE-CERTIFICATION class in December. For more information about the two classes, please see the flyer below.

FOR MORE INFO & TO REGISTER FOR THE 8 WEEK ENTIRE EMISSION TECHNICIAN EDUCATION PROGRAM (ETEP) CLASS -- SECTIONS 1 TO 7 -- OFFERED ON MONDAYS DURING NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, PLEASE CLICK  HERE.

FOR REGISTRATION INFO FOR THE EMISSION REPAIR TECHNICIAN RE-CERTIFICATION, PLEASE CLICK HERE

FUTURE CLASSES WILL BE ADDED UPON REQUEST AND ACCORDING TO DEMAND. CONTACT DEBBIE at 973-376-0066 or DEBBIE@NJGCA.ORG TO LET HER KNOW YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING A SPECIFIC CLASS.  THIS WILL ALLOW US TO GAUGE YOUR NEEDS AND KEEP TRACK OF THOSE WISHING TO PARTICIPATE!!

CLASSIFIEDS! -- FOR SALE & HELP WANTED ADS 

Do you have a business for sale?  Are you looking for a new location or opportunity?

• NJGCA regularly assists members looking to sell their business by getting the word out. Since everyone reading this message is involved in the small business gasoline retail, convenience store, and automotive repair trades, it is an ideal medium to connect with interested buyers and prospects!

NJGCA also helps members sell equipment by placing ads in the Road Warrior!

• If you'd like to list equipment for sale, or have an open position you'd like to make other industry professionals aware of, please contact NJGCA at 973-376-0066 and let us help you get the word out! 

NEWS AROUND THE STATE: THE NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW

10/15/2014:
Warren County gas station closed due to mixing of diesel and gas
A Knowlton Township filling station had no choice but to close on Wednesday after a delivery driver filled the gas storage tanks with diesel fuel and the diesel tanks with gas. The problem has already affected more than eight vehicles that have filled up at the US Gas at the Delaware Truck Stop on Route 46 in Knowlton Township, Warren County Department of Weights & Measures Superintendent Michael Santos said. Some of them couldn't even leave the station. The station will cover the cost of repairs necessitated by the switch-up. Affected drivers can call the department at 908-453-2828.
 
10/14/2014:
NJ sales tax could include gas purchases to help fix roads, rails and bridges
Extending the state sales tax to gasoline purchases could be among a combination of revenue sources likely to be used to fix the state’s potholed roads, rusted bridges, and overworked rail system, lawmakers said this week. The idea of charging New Jersey’s 7% sales tax on retail purchases of gasoline was raised during a hearing of the Assembly Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities Committee, the second in a series of field hearings looking into ways of replenishing the state Transportation Trust Fund, the main account used to pay for transportation projects and maintenance.  Most of the $1.6 billion spent by the trust fund this year is for debt service on prior projects, and the fund is projected to run out of cash for any new projects at the start of the 2016 fiscal year, beginning July 1, 2015.
 
10/09/2014:
NJ gas station program approves first backup power plans two years after Sandy
Dozens of gas stations in New Jersey may now install generators and other backup power supplies through a $7 million Hurricane Sandy grant program that aims to prevent the long lines and gas shortages that gripped the state in the wake of the 2012 storm. State officials today announced the first round of approvals through the program, giving the green light to backup power plans for 33 retail fuel stations from Sussex County to Ocean County. With $1.8 million in federal funding, 28 of those stations plan to install permanent generators to keep fuel flowing when the power goes out. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority also said another five stations will put "quick connect" devices in place that can hook up to mobile generators. The grants are funded through the federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The stations approved in this round are on top of the 22 stations on the Parkway, NJ Turnpike and AC Expressway that already have backup power in place, according to the state. NJ also received more than $2.5 million to purchase 52 portable generators to deploy in the event of a mass power outage.
 
10/09/2014:
4 N.J. men accused in scheme to falsify auto emissions tests
Three men who operate a private auto inspection business in Paterson, as well as one of their customers, were indicted today for falsifying emissions tests, state authorities said. Investigators allege the operators of Five Stars Auto Inspection allegedly accepted $80 to $150 in return for temporarily installing on-board diagnostic simulators in vehicles in order to generate false data that said the vehicles had passed the state emissions test. As part of the investigation, detectives arranged for the men to install the simulators in two undercover vehicles so they would pass inspection, the Attorney General's Office said. The owner of the business, Christopher Alcantara, 29 -- as well as his uncle, Mariano Alcantara, 52, of Clifton, and a cousin, Lewis Alcantara- Sosa, 22 -- were charged with conspiracy, computer theft, tampering with public records and violating the Air Pollution Control Act, the state Attorney General's Office said in a statement. Also charged was Gary Davis, 62, of Rochelle Park, who allegedly knowingly paid the men for passing tests for limousines he drove.

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.