Dear Mayor:

Late yesterday, the agenda for the Senate Judiciary Committee's final scheduled meeting (June 9) before the Summer Recess was released. The citizens' property tax reform convention bills (A-5269 and S-2585) are not even scheduled for 'consideration,' let alone Committee 'action.'

In his State of the State Speech on January 11, 2005, Acting Governor (and Senate President) Codey said, "We must consider … and act upon … the Property Tax Convention." Maybe those words meant something different to Governor Codey and the State Senators in his audience. But as we understand government, to 'consider' means to think about something; while a Legislator 'acts upon' a bill by voting for or against it.

On May 16, the Assembly acted upon A-5269, which would permit the people of New Jersey to decide whether they want a special citizens' convention for property tax reform. On May 19, Senate President (and Acting Governor) Codey referred the bill to the Senate Judiciary Committee. On May 23, companion legislation (S-2585) was also referred to that Committee, by the Senate President.

In order for the people to be able to express their will on this crisis this November, the Senate must pass the bills before mid-August. In decreasing degrees of probability, here's how that could happen. The bills could be added to the Judiciary Committee's June 9 agenda, if so authorized by the Senate President. The Senate President could call for another Judiciary Committee meeting on a later date (such as June 20, 23 or 27). Or the Senate President could call, first the Committee back to Trenton, and then the Senate back into session, during the Summer Recess, to act upon the bills, in a timely manner.

Please contact your State Senator and ask her or him to urge Governor Codey to give his colleagues the opportunity to act upon the convention proposal. This will be our last chance to advance towards reform in 2005. And the public deserves better than false promises and unrealistic expectations.

Also, please make every effort to bring a group of concerned citizens from your municipality to our citizens' rally to support A-5269/S-2585 on Thursday, June 16, in front of the Statehouse in Trenton. And remember that AARP will provide a bus for any Mayor organizing a group of 30 or more citizens to attend the rally. Your contact for this is Zakiya Worthey at AARP. Her phone number is 609-452-3920.

For further information on this, refer to our website at www.njslom.com, or call Jon Moran at 609-695-3481, ext. 21.