The Times, Tuesday, November 23, 2004

GIVE THE PEOPLE THE POWER TO REFORM PROPERTY TAXES, NOW!

By: William G. Dressel, Jr.

Executive Director, New Jersey League of Municipalities

New Jersey needs property tax reform now. In fact, we’ve needed it for decades. The Legislature has had more than ample time to address the property tax crisis. It has not. So, those of us who truly support reform have come to embrace the call for a special property tax reform convention, composed of delegates elected by the people who pay the taxes, and focused solely on proposing meaningful reforms, that those same property tax burdened citizens would have to ratify, before those reforms took affect.

On Sunday, opponents of such a convention ran a misleading full page ad that purports to call for property tax reform now. It is based on a misguided faith in the Legislature, which has carefully avoided any substantive discussion of reform for decades; and on a misplaced fear that the convention might actually recommend, and the people of New Jersey might actually ratify, measures that could hurt the very people most in need of property tax reform.

The ad inaccurately states, “Recommendations from a Constitutional Convention really will not matter much because the legislature can reject its plan entirely, or change the plan before it goes to the voters.” It’s not for us to guess whether this falsehood is based on ignorance of the facts, or on some other consideration. But let’s just set the record straight.

The Property Tax Reform Convention Task Force, now meeting, will issue a report and recommend a property tax convention bill to the Legislature before the end of this year. The bill will include safeguards, designed to ensure all that the convention will remain focused on its reason for being – true property tax reform. Both Houses of the Legislature must consider the bill within 60 days. Unless the Legislature derails this movement toward reform, the people will be asked to approve a convention on Election Day, 2005. Either on that day, or thereafter, the people will elect delegates to represent them at the convention. The convention will meet in the Spring and early Summer of 2006. It will issue a proposal for property tax reform, which will go to the people, for ratification on Election Day, 2006. Neither the Legislature, nor the Governor, nor any special interest will come between the people and the convention, once the property tax convention authorizing legislation is signed into law in early 2005.

Incredibly, 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.

The introduction and legislative action on a special property tax convention bill will do nothing to prevent the unanticipated, unprecedented and highly unlikely prospect that the Legislature just might decide, at long last, to lance this festering sore on the body politic. All action on a convention bill will do is set a time limit.

The Legislature will have until Election Day 2005 to convince the people of New Jersey that they do not need a special convention to get true property tax reform. If they can do that, there will be no special convention. If they cannot, then there has to be one.

The property tax crisis is a burning fire. The Legislature is the Fire Department. They’ve repeatedly been notified of the situation, but they haven’t shown up yet. Finally, we can wait no longer. If they are not going to put the fire out, then they should at least let the people of New Jersey borrow the truck.

The Times, Tuesday, November 23, 2004 GIVE THE PEOPLE THE POWER TO REFORM PROPERTY TAXES, NOW! By: William G. Dressel, Jr. Executive Director, New Jersey League of Municipalities New Jersey needs property tax reform now. In fact, we’ve needed it for decades. The Legislature has had more than ample time to address the property tax crisis. It has not. So, those of us who truly support reform have come to embrace the call for a special property tax reform convention, composed of delegates elected by the people who pay the taxes, and focused solely on proposing meaningful reforms, that those same property tax burdened citizens would have to ratify, before those reforms took affect. On Sunday, opponents of such a convention ran a misleading full page ad that purports to call for property tax reform now. It is based on a misguided faith in the Legislature, which has carefully avoided any substantive discussion of reform for decades; and on a misplaced fear that the convention might actually recommend, and the people of New Jersey might actually ratify, measures that could hurt the very people most in need of property tax reform. The ad inaccurately states, “Recommendations from a Constitutional Convention really will not matter much because the legislature can reject its plan entirely, or change the plan before it goes to the voters.” It’s not for us to guess whether this falsehood is based on ignorance of the facts, or on some other consideration. But let’s just set the record straight. The Property Tax Reform Convention Task Force, now meeting, will issue a report and recommend a property tax convention bill to the Legislature before the end of this year. The bill will include safeguards, designed to ensure all that the convention will remain focused on its reason for being – true property tax reform. Both Houses of the Legislature must consider the bill within 60 days. Unless the Legislature derails this movement toward reform, the people will be asked to approve a convention on Election Day, 2005. Either on that day, or thereafter, the people will elect delegates to represent them at the convention. The convention will meet in the Spring and early Summer of 2006. It will issue a proposal for property tax reform, which will go to the people, for ratification on Election Day, 2006. Neither the Legislature, nor the Governor, nor any special interest will come between the people and the convention, once the property tax convention authorizing legislation is signed into law in early 2005. Incredibly, 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. The introduction and legislative action on a special property tax convention bill will do nothing to prevent the unanticipated, unprecedented and highly unlikely prospect that the Legislature just might decide, at long last, to lance this festering sore on the body politic. All action on a convention bill will do is set a time limit. The Legislature will have until Election Day 2005 to convince the people of New Jersey that they do not need a special convention to get true property tax reform. If they can do that, there will be no special convention. If they cannot, then there has to be one. The property tax crisis is a burning fire. The Legislature is the Fire Department. They’ve repeatedly been notified of the situation, but they haven’t shown up yet. Finally, we can wait no longer. If they are not going to put the fire out, then they should at least let the people of New Jersey borrow the truck.