Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Trenton, NJ

LEAGUE CONTINUES PUSH FOR TAX REFORM CONVENTION

The New Jersey League of Municipalities continues to work with its partners in the Citizens' Convention Coalition in planning a renewed push for progress towards a Citizens' Convention for Property Tax Reform, as soon as the Legislature returns from its budget break.

In addition to the League of Municipalities, the Property Tax Reform Convention Coalition includes the Citizens for Property Tax Reform, the League of Women Voters, Citizens for the Public Good, the Black Ministers' Council of New Jersey, AARP-New Jersey, New Jersey Policy Perspective, New Jersey Future, the New Jersey Chapter, Sierra Club, New Jersey Conservation Foundation and the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions.

Governor Corzine's campaign pledge to address the property tax crisis was put on hold, pending work on the state budget and the structural deficit. But yesterday's school budget elections clearly indicate that the people need, want and deserve progress toward real reform. And they will demand more than a promise of a special session, sometime in the future. There is nothing that the Legislature could do in a "Special Session," that it couldn't have done two, or ten or twenty years ago IN A REGULAR SESSION.

Based on decades of institutional inattention to the problems imposed on citizens by New Jersey's anachronistic over-reliance on regressive property taxes and inaction on structural property tax reforms, and based on the Legislature's sorrowful performance in previous special tax reform sessions, Citizens' Convention Coalition members are doubtful that a special session of the Legislature would produce meaningful and lasting property tax reforms.

As Somerdale Mayor and League Executive Board Member Gary Passanante has said, "The property tax crisis is a burning fire. The Legislature is the Fire Department. It has repeatedly been notified of the situation, but it hasn't shown up yet. Finally, we can wait no longer. If the Legislature is not going to put the fire out, then it should at least let the people of New Jersey borrow the truck."

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For more information, please contact Mr. Bill Dressel, Executive Director at 609-695-3481, ext. 22 or by cell at 609-915-9072 or at bdressel@njslom.com.