SPECIAL SESSION OR NOT, NJ TAXPAYERS STILL NEED A CITIZENS CONVENTION FOR REFORM

As we consider the recent budget battle in the State House, does anyone still believe that the people of New Jersey will ever be given true and sustainable property tax reform through the legislative process?

A look at some advantages a Citizens Convention would have, that a special session would not, just might help us to find an answer.

Clearly, property tax reform will involve both constitutional and statutory changes. If the process takes place in a legislative Special Session, these components will be acted upon separately: some as legislative measures presented at the Special Session; some as individual constitutional initiatives proposed for the next general election; and some, possible, as legislative measures subject to voter ratification at a future referendum. The result could be a fragmented, disjointed, incomplete reform scheme.

The Special Session, therefore, provides no assurance that all components of a balanced, comprehensive property tax reform will be approved.

On the other hand, a convention format specifies that all elements of the reform program are subject to a single up-or-down ballot vote. The public can not be selective in approving only parts of the package. This insures that the unpopular components have to be accepted if total property tax reform is to take place.

Finally, only the Convention approach lets the people who pay the piper call the tune. The people will get to decide IF they want a Convention. The people will get to decide WHO WILL REPRESENT THEM at the Convention. And the people will get pass ULTIMATE JUDGMENT ON THE OUTCOME OF THE CONVENTION.

The Legislature has always had the power to address the property tax crisis. The Legislature has had ample opportunity to address the property tax crisis. The Legislature has NOT addressed the property tax crisis.

Still, we do not oppose a special legislative session for property tax reform.

However, we reject the argument that the Legislature has to act on EITHER a special session OR a citizens' convention.

Passage of the convention bills prior to a special legislative session would, we believe, increase the likelihood of real reforms coming out of the session.

Further, it would allow the people of New Jersey to judge the results of a special session.

And finally, it would assure the people of New Jersey of the shortest escape route form the property tax crisis, should the special session fail to produce real reforms...

For too long, the people of New Jersey have suffered form our over-reliance of property taxes. For too long, they have seen the problem studied by special commissions denied the power to effect the changes they came to advocate. And for too long, has blame for the burden been given to municipal officials, struggling to fund essential services in a system that they did not create and that they cannot change.

Shouldn't all who seriously care about this issue get behind efforts to advance the Citizens' Convention for Property Tax Reform? Shouldn't we all urge our State Legislators to support and cosponsor of the Citizens' Convention bills (A-1858 & ACR-107/S-756 & SCR-68)?

* * * * *

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.