Dear Mayor:

Yesterday the Honorable Gary Passanante, Mayor of Somerdale, hosted the Governor’s signing of A-97, the bill to create a task force to consider and develop recommendations regarding a constitutional convention designed to change the existing property tax system. Mayor Passanante is a member of the League of Municipalities’ Executive Board and Chairman of its Property Tax Reform Review Committee.

The Property Tax Convention Task Force will issue its report by December 31, 2004. This report will contain not only its recommendations but, if appropriate, a draft legislative proposal to implement the convening of the constitutional convention. The Task Force will have 15 members, all with substantial expertise and experience in State and local government matters, constitutional law, public finance or other related areas. The bill appropriates $250,000 from the General Fund for these purposes.

The signing of this bill is the most significant step towards true and lasting property tax reform in over thirty years. The League and the Citizens for Property Tax reform were the first statewide organizations to embrace the idea of a constitutional convention to reform New Jersey’s property tax system when it was proposed by former State Senator Bill Schluter over four years ago. We also extend our thanks and gratitude to Senator John Adler and Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Roberts for their leadership on this issue.

If you would like a copy of A-97, please contact Suzanne DeLany, at the League, ext. 14. For more information on the league’s effort on advocating the constitutional convention see webpage under Special Events and Notices, Constitutional Convention.