|
May
17, 2005
|
| Re: |
A-5269
Will the Senate Stop Progress on Property Tax Reform? |
|
|
DEAR MUNICIPAL CLERK: PLEASE MAKE COPIES AVAILABLE TO YOUR MAYOR, GOVERNING BODY AND MANAGER/ADMINISTRATOR
Late yesterday, after heated debate, the General Assembly approved A-5269, which would allow New Jersey citizens to decide whether or not they want a special property tax reform convention to recommend, for voter approval, changes that would reduce our State’s chronic over-reliance on regressive property taxes.
Our gratitude goes to the sponsors, Assembly Majority Leader Joe Roberts and Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, for their unending and unequaled commitment to the cause of property tax reform. We also thank the 43 Assembly members who joined them in voting for A-5269, especially Assemblymen Bill Baroni, Chris Connors and Brian Rumpf, who bucked courageously their caucus to do what they, and we, think, was the right thing to do.
Now, the bill faces an uncertain fate in the Senate. It is rumored that the Senate may not even consider the bill, even though, Senate President and Acting Governor Codey said, in his State of the State speech, “We must consider ... and act upon … the Property Tax Convention.” In that same speech, he also said, “The public deserves better than false promises and unrealistic expectations.” And Senator Codey has always been a man of his word.
IF WE ARE TO MAKE ANY PROGRESS IN 2005 TOWARD RELIEVING OUR FELLOW CITIZENS FROM THE ONEROUS BURDEN, WHICH DRIVES SENIOR AND DISABLED CITIZENS AND OTHERS ON FIXED INCOMES OUT OF NEW JERSEY, THEN THE SENATE MUST PASS A-5269, BEFORE IT ADJOUNS FOR SUMMER RECESS AT THE END OF JUNE.
PLEASE CONTACT YOUR STATE SENATOR AND URGE HER OR HIM TO SUPPORT A-5269 – OUR LAST BEST HOPE FOR TRUE AND LASTING PROPERTY TAX REFORM.
In the course of the yesterday’s debate, opponents of a property tax reform convention urged the Assembly to deny New Jersey citizens the opportunity to voice their will on this question. In the lobby of the Statehouse, powerful defenders of the status quo will attempt to convince our Senators to let this historic opportunity slip away. We cannot let them succeed.
The provisions of this bill have been artfully crafted to limit the convention to consideration of only practical solutions to the property tax problem. Their recommendations can not increase the over-all tax burden of New Jersey citizens. They can not tamper with the State’s responsibility to fund a thorough and efficient education for our children. They can not abrogate the municipal responsibility to foster affordable housing. And they can not simply reapportion the property tax burden through a Statewide equalization of school taxes.
All who truly yearn for property tax reform are delighted to see progress in the process that will eventually let the people of New Jersey participate in the rehabilitation of the antiquated system that no longer works for the state or its citizens.
Now, the work of the Senate begins. The people of New Jersey expect the Senate to act on A-5269 – not merely to “consider” it. They need nothing more than that. They deserve nothing less.
For more information, contact Jon Moran at (609) 695-3481, extension 21. |
| |
Very
truly yours,
William G. Dressel, Jr.
Executive Director
|
|
TALKING POINTS IN FAVOR OF A-5269,
FOR A CITIZENS’ CONVENTION FOR PROPERTY TAX REFORM
-
Property taxes are unfair and inequitable. They are not based on the ability to pay and fall heaviest on those living on fixed incomes. In our State, those with the least shoulder a disproportionate share of the burden. Households with incomes in the lowest 20 % pay 9.2% of their earnings in property taxes, while the wealthiest 20 % pay 3.6% of their income through this assessment.
-
New Jersey is over-reliant on this regressive revenue source. The property tax accounts for about 45% of total State and local tax revenue in our State. The National average is just slightly above 30%.
-
The Legislature has always had the power to address the property tax crisis. The Legislature has had ample opportunity to address the property tax crisis. The Legislature has NOT addressed the property tax crisis.
-
Incredibly, despite decades of inaction, there are those who still believe that the Legislature, and the Legislature alone, should have the right to accomplish significant and lasting property tax reform. We would welcome that. But don't let anybody tell you that that is the surest route to true reform. And don't let anybody tell you that movement towards a property tax convention precludes the possibility of Legislative progress.
-
Senate action on the special property tax convention bill (A-5269) will do nothing to prevent the unanticipated, unprecedented and highly unlikely prospect that the Legislature just might decide, at long last, to address the issue. All action on a convention bill will do is set a time limit.
-
The Legislature will have until Election Day 2005 to persuade the people of New Jersey that they do not need a special convention to get true property tax reform, either because the job has already been done, or because the Legislature has convinced the people that the job will be done, as soon as the election is over. If they can do that, then there will be no special convention. If they cannot, then there has to be one.
-
Some may say that they support a property tax reform convention, but only if the convention is allowed to recommend spending, as well as revenue, reforms. That argument may have merit, but even if the bill is not so amended …
-
Every year, Mayors and Governing Body Members carefully scrutinize every line item in their budgets. Every year, county and school board officials have the opportunity to do the same. Every year, the budget committees in the Legislature also go through this exercise. So, while spending questions are dealt with on a regular basis, the question of where the money comes from is not.
-
No matter how much you think government should spend; no matter where you think money is needed or money is wasted; no matter what the appropriate level of revenue we need to meet our responsibilities to the people who elected us, the simple fact of the matter is that there has to be a fairer way of raising it. THAT is the crying need of the property taxpayers of our State.
-
And, at this point in the process, with the clock ticking towards summer recess, the choice may not be between either a Convention to look at revenue, only, or a Convention to look at revenue AND spending. The choice right now could be between either A-5269 or NO CONVENTION AT ALL.
-
Others say that a convention will take too long to deliver reform. If enough Legislators had ignored that argument when it was first advanced in 2002, the voters would have had the opportunity to vote on the convention’s recommendations in 2003, and we all could have been enjoying the benefits of reform for the past two years.
House |
Date |
Seq. |
Yes |
No |
N/V |
Abs |
Action |
Motion By |
Assembly |
05/16/2005 |
805 |
45 |
30 |
3 |
2 |
3rd Reading/Final |
Roberts (D5) |
N |
Azzolina (R13) |
Y |
Eagler (D34) |
N |
Pennacchio (R26) |
Y |
Barnes (D18) |
Y |
Egan (D17) |
Y |
Pou (D35) |
Y |
Baroni (R14) |
Y |
Fisher (D3) |
Y |
Previte (D6) |
- |
Bateman (R16) |
N |
Gibson (R1) |
Y |
Prieto (D32) |
N |
Biondi (R16) |
Y |
Gordon (D38) |
Y |
Quigley (D32) |
N |
Blee (R2) |
Y |
Green (D22) |
Y |
Roberts (D5) |
N |
Bodine (R8) |
Y |
Greenstein (D14) |
N |
Rooney (R39) |
N |
Bramnick (R21) |
Y |
Greenwald (D6) |
Y |
Rumpf (R9) |
Y |
Burzichelli (D3) |
N |
Gregg (R24) |
N |
Russo (R40) |
Y |
Caraballo (D29) |
Y |
Gusciora (D15) |
Y |
Scalera (D36) |
N |
Carroll (R25) |
Y |
Hackett (D27) |
Y |
Sires (D33) |
N |
Chatzidakis (R8) |
N |
Holzapfel (R10) |
Y |
Smith, R. (D4) |
N |
Chiappone (D31) |
Y |
Johnson (D37) |
Y |
Stack (D33) |
Y |
Chivukula (D17) |
N |
Kean, S. (R11) |
Y |
Stanley (D28) |
Y |
Cohen (D20) |
N |
Malone (R30) |
A |
Steele (D35) |
Y |
Conaway (D7) |
N |
Manzo (D31) |
Y |
Stender (D22) |
Y |
Conners (D7) |
Y |
Mayer (D4) |
N |
Thompson (R13) |
Y |
Connors, C. (R9) |
N |
McHose (R24) |
Y |
Tucker (D28) |
N |
Conover (R2) |
Y |
McKeon (D27) |
Y |
Van Drew (D1) |
N |
Corodemus (R11) |
N |
Merkt (R25) |
N |
Vandervalk (R39) |
Y |
Cruz-Perez (D5) |
Y |
Morgan (D12) |
Y |
Vas (D19) |
Y |
Cryan (D20) |
- |
Munoz (R21) |
A |
Voss (D38) |
N |
Dancer (R30) |
N |
Myers (R23) |
Y |
Watson Coleman (D15) |
N |
DeCroce (R26) |
N |
O'Toole (R40) |
Y |
Weinberg (D37) |
Y |
Diegnan (D18) |
Y |
Oliver (D34) |
Y |
Wisniewski (D19) |
N |
DiGaetano (R36) |
Y |
Panter (D12) |
N |
Wolfe (R10) |
N |
Doherty (R23) |
- |
Payne (D29) |
|
|
NJLM - A-5269 Will the Senate Stop Progress on Property Tax Reform?
|
May
17, 2005
|
| Re: |
A-5269
Will the Senate Stop Progress on Property Tax Reform? |
|
|
DEAR MUNICIPAL CLERK: PLEASE MAKE COPIES AVAILABLE TO YOUR MAYOR, GOVERNING BODY AND MANAGER/ADMINISTRATOR
Late yesterday, after heated debate, the General Assembly approved A-5269, which would allow New Jersey citizens to decide whether or not they want a special property tax reform convention to recommend, for voter approval, changes that would reduce our State’s chronic over-reliance on regressive property taxes.
Our gratitude goes to the sponsors, Assembly Majority Leader Joe Roberts and Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, for their unending and unequaled commitment to the cause of property tax reform. We also thank the 43 Assembly members who joined them in voting for A-5269, especially Assemblymen Bill Baroni, Chris Connors and Brian Rumpf, who bucked courageously their caucus to do what they, and we, think, was the right thing to do.
Now, the bill faces an uncertain fate in the Senate. It is rumored that the Senate may not even consider the bill, even though, Senate President and Acting Governor Codey said, in his State of the State speech, “We must consider ... and act upon … the Property Tax Convention.” In that same speech, he also said, “The public deserves better than false promises and unrealistic expectations.” And Senator Codey has always been a man of his word.
IF WE ARE TO MAKE ANY PROGRESS IN 2005 TOWARD RELIEVING OUR FELLOW CITIZENS FROM THE ONEROUS BURDEN, WHICH DRIVES SENIOR AND DISABLED CITIZENS AND OTHERS ON FIXED INCOMES OUT OF NEW JERSEY, THEN THE SENATE MUST PASS A-5269, BEFORE IT ADJOUNS FOR SUMMER RECESS AT THE END OF JUNE.
PLEASE CONTACT YOUR STATE SENATOR AND URGE HER OR HIM TO SUPPORT A-5269 – OUR LAST BEST HOPE FOR TRUE AND LASTING PROPERTY TAX REFORM.
In the course of the yesterday’s debate, opponents of a property tax reform convention urged the Assembly to deny New Jersey citizens the opportunity to voice their will on this question. In the lobby of the Statehouse, powerful defenders of the status quo will attempt to convince our Senators to let this historic opportunity slip away. We cannot let them succeed.
The provisions of this bill have been artfully crafted to limit the convention to consideration of only practical solutions to the property tax problem. Their recommendations can not increase the over-all tax burden of New Jersey citizens. They can not tamper with the State’s responsibility to fund a thorough and efficient education for our children. They can not abrogate the municipal responsibility to foster affordable housing. And they can not simply reapportion the property tax burden through a Statewide equalization of school taxes.
All who truly yearn for property tax reform are delighted to see progress in the process that will eventually let the people of New Jersey participate in the rehabilitation of the antiquated system that no longer works for the state or its citizens.
Now, the work of the Senate begins. The people of New Jersey expect the Senate to act on A-5269 – not merely to “consider” it. They need nothing more than that. They deserve nothing less.
For more information, contact Jon Moran at (609) 695-3481, extension 21. |
| |
Very
truly yours,
William G. Dressel, Jr.
Executive Director
|
|
TALKING POINTS IN FAVOR OF A-5269,
FOR A CITIZENS’ CONVENTION FOR PROPERTY TAX REFORM
-
Property taxes are unfair and inequitable. They are not based on the ability to pay and fall heaviest on those living on fixed incomes. In our State, those with the least shoulder a disproportionate share of the burden. Households with incomes in the lowest 20 % pay 9.2% of their earnings in property taxes, while the wealthiest 20 % pay 3.6% of their income through this assessment.
-
New Jersey is over-reliant on this regressive revenue source. The property tax accounts for about 45% of total State and local tax revenue in our State. The National average is just slightly above 30%.
-
The Legislature has always had the power to address the property tax crisis. The Legislature has had ample opportunity to address the property tax crisis. The Legislature has NOT addressed the property tax crisis.
-
Incredibly, despite decades of inaction, there are those who still believe that the Legislature, and the Legislature alone, should have the right to accomplish significant and lasting property tax reform. We would welcome that. But don't let anybody tell you that that is the surest route to true reform. And don't let anybody tell you that movement towards a property tax convention precludes the possibility of Legislative progress.
-
Senate action on the special property tax convention bill (A-5269) will do nothing to prevent the unanticipated, unprecedented and highly unlikely prospect that the Legislature just might decide, at long last, to address the issue. All action on a convention bill will do is set a time limit.
-
The Legislature will have until Election Day 2005 to persuade the people of New Jersey that they do not need a special convention to get true property tax reform, either because the job has already been done, or because the Legislature has convinced the people that the job will be done, as soon as the election is over. If they can do that, then there will be no special convention. If they cannot, then there has to be one.
-
Some may say that they support a property tax reform convention, but only if the convention is allowed to recommend spending, as well as revenue, reforms. That argument may have merit, but even if the bill is not so amended …
-
Every year, Mayors and Governing Body Members carefully scrutinize every line item in their budgets. Every year, county and school board officials have the opportunity to do the same. Every year, the budget committees in the Legislature also go through this exercise. So, while spending questions are dealt with on a regular basis, the question of where the money comes from is not.
-
No matter how much you think government should spend; no matter where you think money is needed or money is wasted; no matter what the appropriate level of revenue we need to meet our responsibilities to the people who elected us, the simple fact of the matter is that there has to be a fairer way of raising it. THAT is the crying need of the property taxpayers of our State.
-
And, at this point in the process, with the clock ticking towards summer recess, the choice may not be between either a Convention to look at revenue, only, or a Convention to look at revenue AND spending. The choice right now could be between either A-5269 or NO CONVENTION AT ALL.
-
Others say that a convention will take too long to deliver reform. If enough Legislators had ignored that argument when it was first advanced in 2002, the voters would have had the opportunity to vote on the convention’s recommendations in 2003, and we all could have been enjoying the benefits of reform for the past two years.
House |
Date |
Seq. |
Yes |
No |
N/V |
Abs |
Action |
Motion By |
Assembly |
05/16/2005 |
805 |
45 |
30 |
3 |
2 |
3rd Reading/Final |
Roberts (D5) |
N |
Azzolina (R13) |
Y |
Eagler (D34) |
N |
Pennacchio (R26) |
Y |
Barnes (D18) |
Y |
Egan (D17) |
Y |
Pou (D35) |
Y |
Baroni (R14) |
Y |
Fisher (D3) |
Y |
Previte (D6) |
- |
Bateman (R16) |
N |
Gibson (R1) |
Y |
Prieto (D32) |
N |
Biondi (R16) |
Y |
Gordon (D38) |
Y |
Quigley (D32) |
N |
Blee (R2) |
Y |
Green (D22) |
Y |
Roberts (D5) |
N |
Bodine (R8) |
Y |
Greenstein (D14) |
N |
Rooney (R39) |
N |
Bramnick (R21) |
Y |
Greenwald (D6) |
Y |
Rumpf (R9) |
Y |
Burzichelli (D3) |
N |
Gregg (R24) |
N |
Russo (R40) |
Y |
Caraballo (D29) |
Y |
Gusciora (D15) |
Y |
Scalera (D36) |
N |
Carroll (R25) |
Y |
Hackett (D27) |
Y |
Sires (D33) |
N |
Chatzidakis (R8) |
N |
Holzapfel (R10) |
Y |
Smith, R. (D4) |
N |
Chiappone (D31) |
Y |
Johnson (D37) |
Y |
Stack (D33) |
Y |
Chivukula (D17) |
N |
Kean, S. (R11) |
Y |
Stanley (D28) |
Y |
Cohen (D20) |
N |
Malone (R30) |
A |
Steele (D35) |
Y |
Conaway (D7) |
N |
Manzo (D31) |
Y |
Stender (D22) |
Y |
Conners (D7) |
Y |
Mayer (D4) |
N |
Thompson (R13) |
Y |
Connors, C. (R9) |
N |
McHose (R24) |
Y |
Tucker (D28) |
N |
Conover (R2) |
Y |
McKeon (D27) |
Y |
Van Drew (D1) |
N |
Corodemus (R11) |
N |
Merkt (R25) |
N |
Vandervalk (R39) |
Y |
Cruz-Perez (D5) |
Y |
Morgan (D12) |
Y |
Vas (D19) |
Y |
Cryan (D20) |
- |
Munoz (R21) |
A |
Voss (D38) |
N |
Dancer (R30) |
N |
Myers (R23) |
Y |
Watson Coleman (D15) |
N |
DeCroce (R26) |
N |
O'Toole (R40) |
Y |
Weinberg (D37) |
Y |
Diegnan (D18) |
Y |
Oliver (D34) |
Y |
Wisniewski (D19) |
N |
DiGaetano (R36) |
Y |
Panter (D12) |
N |
Wolfe (R10) |
N |
Doherty (R23) |
- |
Payne (D29) |
|
|
|
|
|
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