Dear Mayor:
Two bills that must pass (one of them, with super-majorities
in both Houses), before the Legislature leaves Trenton for
its Summer Recess on or about June 30, have cleared their
first hurdle. A-5269, which would authorize a special convention
for property tax reform, and ACR-25, which would allow the
convention to propose statutory changes, were amended and
released yesterday by the Assembly State Government Committee
and now move on to the Appropriations Committee.
A-5269 needs
to pass with simple majorities in both Houses (41 'yes'
votes in the Assembly and 21 in the Senate) and be signed
by Governor Codey before the recess, in order for the
people to be able to vote this November on whether or
not they want a special convention for property tax reform.
ACR-25 is a proposed temporary Constitutional Amendment
that would allow the people to enact statutory changes,
proposed by the convention, for property tax reform. Currently,
only the Legislature can act on laws. It requires a three-fifths
vote in each House (48 votes in the Assembly and 24 in
the Senate) to appear on this November's ballot for citizen
approval.
Among the amendments
adopted by the Committee yesterday were two of special
importance to us. The first would preclude the Convention
from recommending a statewide equalized property tax for
education. As Mayor Jo-Anne Schubert of South Bound Brook
said in her testimony, presented on the League's behalf,
"The solution to our over-dependence on the property
tax is not another property tax, … While some might
argue that a statewide equalization would spread the property
tax burden more fairly among taxing districts; it would
not necessarily be fairer to individual taxpayers. And
that is the standard by which any reform needs to be measured."
We want to
thank Senator Len Connors and Assemblymen Chris Connors
and Brian Rumpf for their continuing efforts to keep such
a statewide equalization off the convention's list of
potential options. And we want to especially thank Assemblyman
Jeff VanDrew, who authored the amendment and who appeared
before the Committee to argue for its acceptance.
The second key amendment, from our perspective, would
allow the convention to include, in its recommendations,
provisions to ensure that the reforms will provide lasting
benefits to the property taxpayers of New Jersey. Senate
Minority Leader Leonard Lance has been an articulate advocate
of such a provision saying, "For the convention to
succeed in achieving the goal of proposing significant
and enduring property tax reform the delegates must be
entrusted to examine - within prescribed limits - those
matters that propel the continued escalation of the property
tax burden."
Mayor Gary
Passanante of Somerdale also spoke for the League. Mayor
Passanante noted, "While we salute the Governor on
his effort to address the deficit crisis, we sadly note
that the proposed "cure" will only exacerbate
New Jersey's chronic property tax crisis. … The by-product
will be an increase in New Jersey's already unprecedented
over-reliance on regressive property taxes to fund essential
public programs and services. … With property tax
pressures almost certain to intensify this year, the people
of New Jersey must be given a hope for future relief.
They expect the Senate and General Assembly, as well as
Governor Codey, to act on a property tax convention bill,
in time to get the question on this November's ballot.
They need nothing more than that. They deserve nothing
less."
If you want
the latest information on the convention initiative visit
our website at www.njslom.com. If you want copies of the
bill, call Ms. Suzanne DeLany at 609-695-3481, ext. 14.
And if you have any questions call Jon Moran at 609-695-3481,
ext. 21.
