TAX NEWS - June 2010
New Jersey Tax: Governor Chris Christie outlined a sweeping property tax reform package
Legislative committee approval for the Cap 2.5 constitutional amendment is needed before the first week of July in order to meet the deadline for the bill to be moved to the floor and approved for placement on the ballot and consideration by the voters in November. Governor Christie is urging the Assembly and Senate leadership and legislators of both parties to work with him in putting this critical government reform before the voters for approval this November.
Property taxes have grown an astonishing 70% over the last ten years, resulting in an average annual property tax bill of $7,281 on New Jersey families - the highest rate in the nation. Cap 2.5 will halt the astonishing growth in property taxes while the Christie Reform Agenda will give towns and school boards the tools needed to control spending to make Cap 2.5 both realistic and achievable according to a press release.
Today, the Governor's Office announced that all seven members of the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders, four Democrats and three Republicans, have endorsed Governor Christie's Cap 2.5 Reform Agenda to bring property tax relief to New Jersey families.
"New Jerseyans have suffered for far too long under Trenton's failure to enact real property tax reform. There is no more time for excuses, empty gestures or anything short of the comprehensive reform of the Christie Reform Agenda," said Freeholder Michael Marotta. "Now, we must deliver real, permanent solutions to put New Jersey's property tax crisis in check. This is exactly why every Passaic County freeholder is standing alongside Governor Christie and his reforms."
Assemblyman Domenick DiCicco issued the following statement following the Democrats refusal to take action Monday on two procedural motions offered by the 4th Legislative District lawmaker to move two CAP 2.5 resolutions, of which is he a sponsor, out of committee:
"The Democrats today showed their true colors by blocking the single largest and most important reform initiative in 60 years. Democrats who prefer to play partisan politics have again stalled republican legislation that will constitutionally guarantee property tax relief for millions of New Jersey families. They played partisan games to raise taxes and now they are playing partisan games with real and permanent property tax reform.
"If they are so concerned about seniors and the disabled as they claim, then why have they posted this roadblock to reform? Why are they denying our taxpayers the opportunity to have constitutionally-guaranteed property tax reform? Obviously, some members of their own caucus, who voted with us today, believe our CAP 2.5 plan is in the best interest of our taxpayers. You can rest assured Republicans will continue to fight for New Jersey's taxpayers."
Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon, R-Monmouth and Mercer, issued the following statement after Democrats in the Assembly rejected his motion to force action on legislation that would constitutionally guarantee property tax relief:
"Our effort to provide real, sustainable property tax relief for everyone in New Jersey was thwarted by Assembly Democrats who are blocking this historic reform because they are more interested in trying to bribe a select constituency with dishonest political showmanship.
"Our plan to constitutionally cap property taxes and government spending increases at 2.5 percent would give all voters direct control over how their money is spent. It's precisely the type of permanent, constitutionally guaranteed property tax relief that everyone in New Jersey has been waiting for us to deliver.
"Our state's senior citizens are too smart to fall for another politically-motivated gimmick that provides false hope and does nothing about the systemic problems of our state. Everyone in New Jersey, regardless of demographic, wants the same thing: real reform that will make our state affordable again. There is no excuse for Democratic legislators making them wait another year or for playing politics with this most critical issue."
Assembly Republican Deputy Conference Leader Scott T. Rumana, R-Passaic, Bergen and Essex, issued the following statement after the Assembly Democrats refused to advance legislation that would provide constitutionally-guaranteed property tax relief to everyone in New Jersey:
"Everyone in New Jersey – from senior citizens to young couples starting out, from small business owners to working middle class families – wants the same thing: permanent sustainable property tax relief that will make New Jersey affordable again.
"But instead of providing that relief for everyone in New Jersey by constitutionally guaranteeing caps on property taxes and state government spending, Assembly Democrats focused instead on another tax increase. This isn't what the people want and won't do anything to help our property tax crisis.
"We can still deliver permanent property tax relief for seniors, disabled citizens, middle class families and all of our constituents in New Jersey if Democratic legislators stop delaying the inevitable solution to our state's most serious problem."
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