 Press reports have indicated that Governor Corzine will do all he can to get the Legislature to move forward on property tax reform in a special session this summer. And he refuses to believe that we have to wait until 2008 to have a Citizens’ Convention for Property Tax Reform.
Governor Corzine has committed himself to a special session and progress towards a citizen convention, early in his Administration. He has reaffirmed that commitment on numerous occasions.
We salute the Governor for his continuing efforts to honor that promise to the people. Likewise, we commend Speaker Roberts and all of his colleagues who have made an honest effort to advance the cause of property tax reform. We’re disappointed, however, that the people of New Jersey still have not been given their due.
Our property taxpayers are the ones who really need a breather.
The property tax accounts for about 45 percent of New Jersey’s state and local tax revenue. The national average is just slightly above 30 percent. New Jersey property taxes are about 5.6 percent of personal income, compared with the national average of 3.6 percent. New Jersey 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.
Now, Speaker Roberts has announced plans to have the Assembly work through the summer on school finance and pension issues, and on inter-local cooperation and fire district reforms. Senate President Codey, meanwhile, plans to empanel a “Task Force” to study how a special session might unfold. So, some action will take place in Trenton this summer, but, unless things change, not nearly enough.
We urge all New Jerseyans who are concerned about property taxes to contact their State Legislators, especially their Senators. They should welcome the chance to wrestle with this chronic and worsening crisis in a special session, as soon as possible. And they should join as cosponsors of S-756 and SCR-68. These bills would let the people of New Jersey, the people who pay the taxes, decide whether or not they want a special citizens’ convention to recommend, for voter approval, constitutional and statutory changes to achieve and sustain meaningful property tax reform.
Editorial from New Jersey
Municipalities, Volume 83, Number 6, June 2006 |
EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE |
FROM
407 WEST
STATE STREET
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Let's Take Action
Press reports have indicated that Governor Corzine will do all he can to get the Legislature to move forward on property tax reform in a special session this summer. And he refuses to believe that we have to wait until 2008 to have a Citizens’ Convention for Property Tax Reform.
Governor Corzine has committed himself to a special session and progress towards a citizen convention, early in his Administration. He has reaffirmed that commitment on numerous occasions.
We salute the Governor for his continuing efforts to honor that promise to the people. Likewise, we commend Speaker Roberts and all of his colleagues who have made an honest effort to advance the cause of property tax reform. We’re disappointed, however, that the people of New Jersey still have not been given their due.
Our property taxpayers are the ones who really need a breather.
The property tax accounts for about 45 percent of New Jersey’s state and local tax revenue. The national average is just slightly above 30 percent. New Jersey property taxes are about 5.6 percent of personal income, compared with the national average of 3.6 percent. New Jersey 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.
Now, Speaker Roberts has announced plans to have the Assembly work through the summer on school finance and pension issues, and on inter-local cooperation and fire district reforms. Senate President Codey, meanwhile, plans to empanel a “Task Force” to study how a special session might unfold. So, some action will take place in Trenton this summer, but, unless things change, not nearly enough.
We urge all New Jerseyans who are concerned about property taxes to contact their State Legislators, especially their Senators. They should welcome the chance to wrestle with this chronic and worsening crisis in a special session, as soon as possible. And they should join as cosponsors of S-756 and SCR-68. These bills would let the people of New Jersey, the people who pay the taxes, decide whether or not they want a special citizens’ convention to recommend, for voter approval, constitutional and statutory changes to achieve and sustain meaningful property tax reform.
Editorial from New Jersey
Municipalities, Volume 83, Number 6, June 2006 |
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