Dear Mayor:
We want to thank all who attended our 2nd Annual Property Tax Summit today in Lawrenceville, as well as those who sent representatives to the session. Important information was shared both by and with key Administration Officials and Legislative Leaders.
The latest State revenue update was provided by Treasurer John E. McCormac. A review of valuable Department of Community Affairs programs and services was presented by Commissioner Susan Bass Levin. And both of these former municipal officials shared their insights on public policy prospects in Trenton, from a municipal perspective. Elmer Mayor and League First Vice President Herb Stiles, who presided over this part of the program, then opened the floor to questions.
After a brief intermission, NJN’s savvy Statehouse Reporter Jim Hooker brilliantly facilitated a free-wheeling discussion of the prospects for property tax relief, this year, and property tax reform, for the future. Our panelists were Assembly Speaker Albio Sires, Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, Assemblymen Kevin O’Toole and Steve Corodemus, Senator John Adler and Mayors Jo-Anne Schubert of South Bound Brook, Gary Passanante of Somerdale and Marty Marks of Scotch Plains. Comments from the floor drove home the need for both immediate relief and long term reform.
Speaker Sires has indicated that A-5269 and ACR-25, the bills to advance the special property tax relief convention question to the voters, will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Thursday, May 12, and, if approved by that panel, posted for a floor vote on Monday, May 23. Accordingly, it is now more important than ever that you contact your Assembly Representatives to inform them of your position on a Citizens’ Convention for Property Tax Reform.
We are very grateful to all the speakers for sharing their time, talent and energy with us at the Summit. We left with renewed confidence in the ability of State and municipal elected officials to listen to and learn from each other, and in their commitment to work together for the benefit of our fellow citizens.
For further information go to our webpage at www.njslom.org, or contact Jon Moran at (609) 695-3481, extension 21.
