The opponents of a special citizens’ convention for property tax reform are working hard to defeat A-5269, which would allow New Jersey voters to authorize the convention, and ACR-25, which would allow the voters to approve statutory changes recommended by that convention.

These defenders of the status quo have organized a call-in campaign. Some state officials claim to be getting 100 phone calls a day, calling for defeat of the convention bills.

YOU NEED TO ACT NOW.

PLEASE CALL THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE AT 609-292-6000 TO REGISTER YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE CITIZENS’ PROPERTY TAX REFORM CONVENTION BILLS (A-5269 and ACR-25).

ALSO, PLEASE CALL YOUR STATE SENATOR AND YOUR GENERAL ASSEMBLY REPRESENTATIVES AND URGE THEM TO SUPPORT THESE BILLS.

Some opponents of the convention suggest that support for the idea will evaporate, once people realize that the delegates could propose increases in other taxes as a means to effect property tax reform.

Obviously, they are mistaken.

By a margin of almost 4 to 1 (70% to 16%), the people of our State would prefer increases in State taxes to any further escalation in local property taxes, according to the latest poll results, released yesterday by Quinnipiac University.

These results can only serve to emphasize the remarks made Wednesday by League of Municipalities’ President, Mayor Peter Cantu of Plainsboro. In testimony presented to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, Mayor Cantu noted that the current system which relies on the local property tax to finance local government services is “plainly and obviously broken. Mayor Cantu called on the Legislature “to advance legislation that would allow the people of New Jersey to decide whether or not they would like a special citizens’ convention for property tax reform.”

The bills that would allow the people of New Jersey to decide whether or not to authorize a citizens’ convention for property tax reform (A-5269 and ACR-25) currently await action in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.