The battle for property tax reform is moving for ward, and as usual your League is on the front lines. Legislation that would authorize a constitutional convention (A-5269) and allow the convention to propose statutory changes (ACR-25) was discussed in the Assembly State Government Committee on January 13.

League past president and Mayor of South Bound Brook Jo-Anne Schubert; Executive Board member, Property Tax Review Committee chair and Mayor of Somerdale Gary Passanante; and I presented the League's testimony. We told committee members why the convention and property tax reform are so important for our state.

In the course of the hearing, powerful opponents of a property tax reform convention urged the Committee to deny New Jersey citizens the opportunity to voice their will on this question. We cannot let them succeed.

Why? As a municipal leader, you can probably answer this question better than anyone. Our testimony focused on the reality that property taxes are unfair and inequitable. They are not based on the ability to pay and fall heaviest on those living on fixed incomes. Households with incomes in the lowest 20 percent pay 9.2 percent of their earnings in property taxes, while the wealthiest 20 percent pay 3.6 percent of their income through this assessment. To those who argue that the Legislature should address the issue, we noted that it has always had the power to address the property tax crisis. Despite the Legislature's decades of inaction, 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 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.

All who truly yearn for property tax reform are delighted to see the beginning of the process that should eventually let the people of New Jersey participate in the rehabilitation of this antiquated and unfair system. Now, the work of the Legislature begins. Now is the time to contact committee members and make your position known. For more information on the Convention and how to get involved, visit www.NJSLOM.com.

In all my years as executive director, we have sought true property tax reform. Now it is in our sights. Our citizens need our advocacy. The people of New Jersey expect the Senate and General Assembly to act on a property tax convention bill. They need nothing more than that. They deserve nothing less.

Editorial from New Jersey Municipalities, Volume 82, Number 2, February 2005

FROM 407 WEST STATE STREET.....   A Great Leap Forward for Property Taxpayers William G. Dressel, Jr. Executive Director New Jersey League of Municipalities The battle for property tax reform is moving for ward, and as usual your League is on the front lines. Legislation that would authorize a constitutional convention (A-5269) and allow the convention to propose statutory changes (ACR-25) was discussed in the Assembly State Government Committee on January 13. League past president and Mayor of South Bound Brook Jo-Anne Schubert; Executive Board member, Property Tax Review Committee chair and Mayor of Somerdale Gary Passanante; and I presented the League's testimony. We told committee members why the convention and property tax reform are so important for our state. In the course of the hearing, powerful opponents of a property tax reform convention urged the Committee to deny New Jersey citizens the opportunity to voice their will on this question. We cannot let them succeed. Why? As a municipal leader, you can probably answer this question better than anyone. Our testimony focused on the reality that property taxes are unfair and inequitable. They are not based on the ability to pay and fall heaviest on those living on fixed incomes. Households with incomes in the lowest 20 percent pay 9.2 percent of their earnings in property taxes, while the wealthiest 20 percent pay 3.6 percent of their income through this assessment. To those who argue that the Legislature should address the issue, we noted that it has always had the power to address the property tax crisis. Despite the Legislature's decades of inaction, 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 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. All who truly yearn for property tax reform are delighted to see the beginning of the process that should eventually let the people of New Jersey participate in the rehabilitation of this antiquated and unfair system. Now, the work of the Legislature begins. Now is the time to contact committee members and make your position known. For more information on the Convention and how to get involved, visit www.NJSLOM.com. In all my years as executive director, we have sought true property tax reform. Now it is in our sights. Our citizens need our advocacy. The people of New Jersey expect the Senate and General Assembly to act on a property tax convention bill. They need nothing more than that. They deserve nothing less.     Editorial from New Jersey Municipalities, Volume 82, Number 2, February 2005