From NorthJersey.com:
Corzine will put tax reform at forefront in State of State
Governor Corzine is gearing up to tell New Jersey that he’s done some work to cut property taxes, the highest in the nation, but he is preparing to do a lot more.
Corzine’s first State of the State speech is scheduled for Tuesday, and the former Wall Street titan is turning his full attention to the rising cost of local government and public schools — again.
Seven months ago, Corzine mobilized lawmakers, ordering them to draft reforms and rein in New Jersey’s property taxes by year’s end. The effort stalled and is now just getting jump-started in the Legislature. Still, Corzine plans to keep the focus on reform in his speech.
“We have a lot to be proud of in New Jersey and folks can expect to hear about that,” Corzine spokesman Anthony Coley said Friday. “They can also expect the governor to focus on the most pressing issue in the state — alleviating the tremendous property tax burden.”
North Jersey residents are paying record amounts in local taxes. Last year bills in the region grew by more than 7 percent.
Many are not so sure the long-promised reform is coming.
Patrick Coyle’s latest property tax bill in North Arlington was $8,250. After years of “hundred-dollar increases,” Coyle said he’d had enough of the Bergen County town and moved late last year to Lincoln Park in Morris County, where taxes are lower.
Coyle is one of many in North Jersey getting angry as tax bills grow and promised reforms are delayed.
“It doesn’t seem like there’s going to ever be a movement in the state to reduce property taxes,” Coyle said.
Perhaps they could lease the state house out.
Let’s see. Maybe Starbucks, or Geico .
Port Authority is shameless enough, why not
the State.
Governor Corzine said that” he’s done some work to cut property taxes,”…this guy is living a dream my taxes went up 7% last year again….how has that cut my taxes ?…He is total fool….I say RECALL NOW
From Newsday:
Legislature to try again to push property tax reform measures
Legislators who were unable to push forward major property tax reform bills last month will try again Monday, with the Assembly slated to vote on a proposal demanded by Gov. Jon S. Corzine if he’s to approve a 20 percent property tax cut for most homeowners.
The Assembly is scheduled to vote on a plan to create a state comptroller to investigate spending by state and local governments. The new office will cost up to $9 million per year, but Corzine and supporters contend it will save more by combating waste and misconduct.
“An independent comptroller would be a formidable check against corruption, favoritism and fraud,” said Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-Mercer, a bill sponsor.
Municipal officials fiercely oppose the plan and are lobbying against it.
“It would give this new appointed state government office unprecedented power to dictate, delay and override the decisions of locally elected and locally responsive public servants,” said Bill Dressel, state League of Municipalities executive director.
A recall could never happen in NJ. Reason:
Blacks and Hispanics were bought off.
And of course the Unions. Anybody ready
this Powell womens comments.(she the teachers
union pres.)
They are all feathering their own nest.
I saw a moving van yesterday. I would assume
its heading out of state.
And the murder rate goes up. But, Newark is the
place to be.
The Assembly is scheduled to vote on a plan to create a state comptroller to investigate spending by state and local governments.
Sure, lets add another layer of government.
Besides, “investigate” or “study” is politician-speak for “delay”. It’s a way to get brownie points from voters for taking action without actually doing anything.
You silly, silly boys and girls, when will you learn? Nothing, and I mean nothing will be done to substantially reduce your property taxes.
Property taxes will nto be reduce, because people will still vote yes for the schol budgets.
The recent news that our public schools rank 4th in the nation just reinforces that (should rank first considering we have the highest property taxes). The teachers union just had a peice in yesterday;s BErgen record again discusiing oru schools , and how property tax reform cannot negatively affect the schools, as it affects the future of our children and jobs.
I guess nobody told them that NJ is not creating good jobs, and as such many of our young people will leave for other areas.
If you ever go to a school board meeting, the first thing you will notice is that there is usually nobdy there. People will say well that is because people are happy with the schools and as such no need to attend the meetings, but I belive you cannot know what is going on without attending a meeting.
Secondly while I commed the people who give up their time for these boards, most are in a word clueless, about economics, finance, and all the rest. And they do have an agenda, and that agenda is spend as much as possible ont eh schools, which will gurantee property values, and so we have lap tops for the highe school, smart boards, and every other gadget, which looks good
The board will tell residents, the budgets have to be approved or their property values will decline, the people do not question, and vote accordingly.
If you disagree you are a gadfly, or people will assume you do not make enough money to afford the taxes, and therefore you should just move.
It is impossible to have a reasonable conversation about any of these matters with most people, which is why I visit this board.
Perception is eveyrhing in the suburbs,sad but true.
Gary –
You can say that again! Taxes in NJ will always go up. It is almost a waste of time to even discuss it. Corzine = Scared Wimp!
Can we get someone in the driver seat with a set of balls! Vote Republican!!!!!!
Property taxes will nto be reduce, because people will still vote yes for the schol budgets.
You know, they may have a point…. ;)
mifune; Sorry for the typos nto=not schol= school. And by the way typos are simply that typos. Is that the only comment you can make?
Now go ahead and make sure you vote for that school budget in April, do not attend a meeting, do not question the board, ust vote yes,and watch out for my typos.
Property taxes will nto be reduce, because people will still vote yes for the schol budgets.
Clifton voters just rejected proposals for new schools on 2 occasions.
In fact, falf of all school budgets in NJ were voted down last year. It was the highest rejection rate since 1994. The problem is that a “no” vote isn’t really binding. A voted down school budget goes to the municipal council for review, where cuts may or not be made, and is often appealed to the commissioner of education. The commissioner of education reviews the original budget and the budget revised by the town council and approves a budget consistent with the State Constitution’s mandate to provide a “thorough and efficient education”. This could be the original budget, which was voted down.
Of course, this leads to gaming in towns where budgets are consistently voted down. Pad the budget, it gets voted down, strip out the extra padding, and your left with the budget you wanted in the first place.
in Clifton, the school board still does not
get it. the residents , who pay attention
have had enough with the property tax increases.
Add on the municiple employees cost and their you have it. for a long time the pols in
Clifton never saw a tax increase they did not
like. The town is becoming a third world city.
In my town the budgets and referendums always pass. Once you mention property values, the sheep just go along.
That Berkeley Councilwoman Karen Davis wants another vote on the question of building a swimming pool in Berkeley is absurd. She said the people of Berkeley did not have the proper information on this matter.
If she was such an advocate of the pool, why didn’t she or the Township Council put all the information out for people to evaluate, such as the cost of maintenance, chemicals and expenses for lifeguards and liability insurance?
Why is this administration pushing the pool? We have beaches and lakes all around. Why are they forming a financial committee on this issue? Why wasn’t this done before it was put on the ballot?
They also want a 30-year bond to pay it off. What are they going to build, a Taj Mahal? They should take a drive around the Holiday City area and see how badly the streets need paving, then get a 30-year bond to pave them.
Advocates of the pool shouldn’t insult the residents of Berkeley by saying pool opponents voted “no” because they didn’t understand the questions. They voted “no” because Berkeley cannot afford it. Stop pushing the pool.
LOOKS like people are finally getting fed-up with the school unions !
I hope somebody is getting tired of the unions{ RE-14}, Hopefully the people of nj will rise up and vote down 75 to 80 % of the school budgets.
The natives are getting a little restless.
Remember how California school unions were ready to hang Schwartzenager, unions held rallies all over the state..
Guess what he got re-elected, people in California were tired of paying the highest taxes in the union.
People must rebel, starting at the ballot box!!!
Nothing will ever be done to reduce property taxes in NJ.
Well it looks like Czar Corzine is the laughing stock of the unions Carla Katz, Corzine’s former gal pal and president of the Communications Workers of American Local 1034.
“We believe he showed he’s committed to the collective bargaining process. We don’t believe there is any real connection between changes that will be made at the bargaining table and property tax relief,” Katz said….can we stp all this BS and go to the constitutional convention NOW