The Star-Ledger

Governor signs measure on tax reform convention

Wednesday, July 7, 2004
By Tom Hester
Star-Ledger Staff

A week after signing a bill to beef up property tax rebates by raising taxes on rich residents, Gov. James E. McGreevey enacted legislation yesterday to move ahead with a special constitutional convention that he said could bring a long-term solution to high property taxes.

The legislation establishes a 15-member task force that will recommend to the governor and Legislature if a convention should be held and how delegates would be selected, and identify the issues. The task force would report its recommendation to state officials by Dec. 31.

A referendum asking voters if they want a convention could appear on the ballot in November 2005 and delegates could be elected in a special election in April 2006. A convention would follow, and voters would be asked to vote on any recommendations in the November 2006 election. The task force will have a budget of $250,000.

McGreevey was initially cool to the idea of a convention but eventually endorsed it as the idea became a major issue in the Legislature. "It is clear to me that while the convention may not be the only way to bring about fundamental (property tax) reform, it is the best way," the governor said.

"We must repair and reconstruct the faulty foundation on which New Jersey's property tax system rests," McGreevey added. "By holding a convention, we will take the property tax debate out of Trenton and put it in the hands of the voters, where it belongs."

The legislation also gives the task force the ability to recommend against a convention, but Roberts said that would not happen. "I've invested five years of my life in this," he said. "If this doesn't happen, it will be over my dead body. Not that I would want it to come to that."

William G. Dressel, director of the New Jersey State of Municipalities, said a tax convention has been talked about for at least three decades.

"This is the first positive, concrete action by any governor and the Legislature to seriously consider a constitutional convention as a vehicle for achieving true property tax reform," he said. "We wholeheartedly embrace it. We accept this as an indication of support for the convention."

The governor will have the power to appoint nine members to the task force and the Legislature six members. The appointees will include members of the public.

The Star-Ledger

Governor signs measure on tax reform convention

Wednesday, July 7, 2004
By Tom Hester
Star-Ledger Staff

A week after signing a bill to beef up property tax rebates by raising taxes on rich residents, Gov. James E. McGreevey enacted legislation yesterday to move ahead with a special constitutional convention that he said could bring a long-term solution to high property taxes.

The legislation establishes a 15-member task force that will recommend to the governor and Legislature if a convention should be held and how delegates would be selected, and identify the issues. The task force would report its recommendation to state officials by Dec. 31.

A referendum asking voters if they want a convention could appear on the ballot in November 2005 and delegates could be elected in a special election in April 2006. A convention would follow, and voters would be asked to vote on any recommendations in the November 2006 election. The task force will have a budget of $250,000.

McGreevey was initially cool to the idea of a convention but eventually endorsed it as the idea became a major issue in the Legislature. "It is clear to me that while the convention may not be the only way to bring about fundamental (property tax) reform, it is the best way," the governor said.

"We must repair and reconstruct the faulty foundation on which New Jersey's property tax system rests," McGreevey added. "By holding a convention, we will take the property tax debate out of Trenton and put it in the hands of the voters, where it belongs."

The legislation also gives the task force the ability to recommend against a convention, but Roberts said that would not happen. "I've invested five years of my life in this," he said. "If this doesn't happen, it will be over my dead body. Not that I would want it to come to that."

William G. Dressel, director of the New Jersey State of Municipalities, said a tax convention has been talked about for at least three decades.

"This is the first positive, concrete action by any governor and the Legislature to seriously consider a constitutional convention as a vehicle for achieving true property tax reform," he said. "We wholeheartedly embrace it. We accept this as an indication of support for the convention."

The governor will have the power to appoint nine members to the task force and the Legislature six members. The appointees will include members of the public.