From the Press of Atlantic City:
NJ’s leveling of room tax playing field also dug a loophole
We’ve long felt it was unfair and detrimental to the hospitality industry for New Jersey to pile room taxes and fees on hotels while giving online room renters such as Airbnb a free ride. So we were glad that legislators and the governor finally leveled that playing field in this year’s budget agreement.
Unfortunately, Democratic leaders did this in a way that created a loophole for one accommodations segment and handed the real estate industry a big gift.
Now everyone who rents out rooms and homes on a short-term basis will pay the state sales tax of 6.625 percent, the state occupancy 5 percent tax, plus local room taxes — a total that can approach 14 percent — except those who pay a licensed real estate broker to hand guests the key.
Really. That doesn’t make any sense, and the Democrats who reached this compromise didn’t offer an explanation or argument in support of this combination tax exemption and real estate industry subsidy. That suggests it’s a shameless ploy for support from brokers and certain vacation property owners.
Democrats may have arrived at this freakishly distorted tax policy, however, somewhat by accident. And the alternatives, such as they are, probably won’t appeal to those on the losing side of this unfair tax scheme.
…
t may seem like only a politician could love such an unfair solution that just happens to reward a narrow constituency. But the property owners who rent their rooms and homes on their own might come to prefer it as well.The only legislative alternative we see is, as Sweeney proposed, to tax all short-term renters of rooms and houses equally. Just strike the words from the new law that rentals aren’t “considered transient accommodations … where the keys to the property … are provided to the lessee at the location of an offsite real estate broker.” That’s a ridiculously untrue statement anyway.
That would be the fairest approach and surely state officials would welcome the additional tax and fee revenue.
…
Discount rental key offices will probably arise up and down the shore, competing on price for the simple business of handing out keys. Condo associations may even find it worthwhile to get together and get someone licensed as a real estate broker to hand out keys.
Why the hell were trucks out spraying the roads yesterday? There was absolutely no snow in the forecast. Because, Murphy.
Murphy vows all-out fight against two small snow storms after last week’s big time mess
“Discount rental key offices will probably arise up and down the shore, competing on price for the simple business of handing out keys.”
Allow me to be the first to offer my services as key-hander-outer to anyone on this blog who has a shore house.
For f*cks sake, here’s one of the comments from that article:
I just drove by some 25+ staged plow trucks on Route 80…. The air temp is 40 degrees, well above freezing, and the forecast is for just a 10% chance of scattered morning showers….. yet we now have an “all out fight”…in other words we’re wasting a few million dollars in overtime, and equipment for a blip on the weather radar, in order to save face for the utter lack of a response to a previously forecasted storm…. Your tax dollars at work…… I hope the state voters are happy with money bags murphy….He’s spending your coin….
lol, pumps was right. Murphy deploys trucks all over today to fight rain in 40 degree weather. He’s starting to show just how incompetent he is as far as actual governance goes. I wonder what this moron was like at Goldman.
Allow me to be the first to offer my services as key-hander-outer to anyone on this blog who has a shore house.
Started a company that allows NJ Airbnb and VRBO members to put a digital lock on the door. As a real estate agent, I will provide renters with digital “keys” for the duration of their stay, for a 0.5% fee.
How do you manage to come down on the wrong side of every issue. Classic comment.
Oh I get it, because you pay taxes, the govt must provide miracles. You are paying for it, right?
Hi, I’m from the govt, what can I do to help you next time there is a snow storm? Can I wipe your a$$ too?
I recommend that people leave work early, or don’t go in, if there is snow in the forecast and don’t want to get stuck in traffic. Don’t make me pay huge amounts of money so you can have perfect roads in a snow storm and still sit in traffic. Morons!
I love how you are lecturing me, the government worker. I don’t expect miracles. I expect them to salt the roads and be ready to plow. The forecasts called for freezing rain. What more did you need? You are seriously devoid of any logic.
Me?
I’m one of the few logical people out there. I told you this would happen. Now I have to pay for “perfect roads” during every snowstorm because people couldn’t accept that there was traffic when every single person was on the road at the exact same time during the snow storm. Idiots that didn’t have a snow ready vehicle crash and make traffic even worse. Who do they blame? As always…the govt. Losers. Look in the mirror and stop blaming other people and expecting perfection from the govt during a freak storm in early November.
I don’t expect to have perfect roads during a snow storm, nor do I want to pay for such madness. It boils my blood to pay for such rubbish, when it will all be cleared in the next day. Impatient bastards have to have it done ASAP. Thanks.
Yes, this boils my blood. This is money wasted because idiot taxpayers love to b!tch about high taxes, but then want services like perfect roads during rush hour grid lock traffic. Can’t make this stuff up..
School Children who slept overnight in their classrooms or were stuck on buses late into the night are “impatient bastards” according to Michael (pumpkin).
D,
It happens, are they safe? The irony in using “the children” in your defense when you complain about teachers using that same line in their negotiations.
Maybe if people like you wouldn’t b!tch when the kids get a snow day or early dismissal, the school districts wouldn’t have to take unnecessary risks with students like they did with this snow storm.
“Why the hell were trucks out spraying the roads yesterday? There was absolutely no snow in the forecast. Because, Murphy.”
This guy makes Dukakis look like a logistical genius (no one here knows or remembers but Mike Dukakis got himself unelected as governor because of a ham-fisted response to the Blizzard of 1978 that crippled eastern Massachusetts).
I am so glad none of my tax dollars go to this clusterf&ck.
The Dollar Shortage Is Back
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-dollar-shortage-is-back-1542625917?emailToken=0eae1463b271c23de7a1bdc98194cbf2iQPXGplCMYoInqFOsUQCCwchu9H3Oy/XET5wikcK5lzeg0hd/28FbNb9oVGqNqbBHfB+2p3PusvxqZaQMp/ebg%3D%3D&reflink=article_copyURL_share
Grim, did you do this for real?
“Started a company that allows NJ Airbnb and VRBO members to put a digital lock on the door. As a real estate agent, I will provide renters with digital “keys” for the duration of their stay, for a 0.5% fee.”
Murphy stacked his admin with radicals using likely illegal hiring practices to circumvent qualifications. Accused r@pists and convicted extortionists among them. The state is run by idealogue extremists. Expect more of the same.
This shore rental reg may come back to bite realtors in this space in the arse.
I always felt the rental fee paid an agency was outsized but needed to be given the small dollar amount of the transaction and the relatively few transactions they handle.
I’m guessing realtors supported this bill assuming they were going to capture the vast majority of the market that doesn’t use their services at full fare. They didn’t take into account new models and market entrants.
Love grim’s digital lock idea if it passes scrutiny.
If not, I’ll set up drive through kiosks over the bridge on LBI, at Exit 98, and on 35. Faster pass through than BK. $500 per house for the entire season.
Going to be a race to the bottom on fees. Established brokers (Turton, etc) may be pretty bummed. A ton more volume at much lower prices may mean more work for same money. And those neat little sale lockups and other lease terms….gonzo….
Yes, this boils my blood. This is money wasted because idiot taxpayers love to b!tch about high taxes, but then want services like perfect roads during rush hour grid lock traffic. Can’t make this stuff up..
So what you are saying is, we have no right to complain about service, despite the fact that we already pay through the roof for the service that was not delivered? Now it’s our fault again because Murphy is deploying trucks today as an overreaction.
At what point can we expect the governor to make appropriate reactions to storms? Be ready for snow, don’t put on a dog and pony show 4 days later when there is no threat. Do you believe in holding anyone accountable for anything?
I’m one of the few logical people out there. I told you this would happen. Now I have to pay for “perfect roads” during every snowstorm because people couldn’t accept that there was traffic when every single person was on the road at the exact same time during the snow storm. Idiots that didn’t have a snow ready vehicle crash and make traffic even worse. Who do they blame? As always…the govt. Losers. Look in the mirror and stop blaming other people and expecting perfection from the govt during a freak storm in early November.
You know, just because you knew this was going to happen today doesn’t make you right. What are you suggesting? We should not complain at all and stay silent so Murphy doesn’t screw up more? Why don’t you blame the guy who screwed up.
Moreover, it’s sad that you are blaming drivers in this. Drivers entered the road on Thursday with the expectation that the roads would be properly treated. Drivers also look towards the state for leadership on the issue (i.e. declaring a state of emergency). The storm came from the south and the accidents were piling up before a single snowflake fell North of 287. Murphy had a time window to get on and make an announcement or take action. He did absolutely nothing. He didn’t even address the public until several hours into this mess.
As far as schools go, they are under pressure to not cancel to avoid the sacrifice f spring break because of a stupid law requiring 180 days of instruction. Massachusetts I believe does it by total hours to avoid this nonsense. Again, a state problem.
You offer no solutions, and don’t even seem to be capable of identifying the problem. Like I said, on every single issue, you manage to come out on the wrong side. Truly amazing.
I have offered simple solutions, but you refuse to acknowledge or accept them. Take responsibility by setting up a plan so you are not driving on a road during a snowstorm. It’s as simple as that. Esp if your car can’t handle it.
“You offer no solutions, and don’t even seem to be capable of identifying the problem. Like I said, on every single issue, you manage to come out on the wrong side. Truly amazing.”
Got it…very logical
It’ll take a heckuva lot of salt truck overtime to match the $250 million Christie handed Prudential to create 6 jobs.
BTW, enjoying that new Hudson River train tunnel yet? I thought so.
Smash capitalism. It’s as simple as that.
“Take responsibility by setting up a plan so you are not driving on a road during a snowstorm. It’s as simple as that.”
Footrest
“Smash capitalism. It’s as simple as that.”
Your side has tried many times. And failed each and every time.
What’s the definition of insanity?
I didn’t hear many complaints about the turnpike and GSP. Obviously, every town needs 55 million dollar salt sheds. Murphy, make it so.
Home builder sentiment at a 4 year low. Market reacts accordingly.
Pumps will eventually be a mental patient who thinks he’s a doctor.
I’m one of the few logical people out there.
Pumps will eventually be a mental patient who thinks he’s a doctor.
Or, governor of NJ
Hilarious, footrest,
The state inefficiently wastes money while providing poor services, and your kneejerk reaction is “smash capitalism.” It is true that this never happens in Venezuela. Maybe you can run with that.
You are either dumber than Michael or you have an Ivy League degree. Or both.
Where in the world is JJ with his off-kilter remarks about rap concerts and life in the 80’s?
He got trampled at D’Jais and remains in a coma.
He got whacked, a mob boss read one of his stories here and figured it must of been him that deflowered his daughter in the bed of his ’67 El Camino.
He was the online alter ego Jamie Dimon used to maintain emotional balance, shut down after JPM compliance discovered it.
Wasn’t the story that he lost his job, and relo’d to NVA on some consulting gig?
Van Hagar…… I Can’t Drive….. 55
https://pagesix.com/2018/11/19/heather-locklear-placed-on-5150-psychiatric-hold/?_ga=2.104103876.57776573.1542466770-528079873.1502847369
The Ocasio-Cortez’s of the world scare the crap out of me and might cause me to actually become a politician. Murphy, I believe at heart is a full blown centrist that only brings up these lefty headlines to feed his political machine. He’s not going to act on that crap, it’s only talk. Murphy is really smart, he’s not going to bring any harm. Ocasio will take down this country’s economy. She has all the characteristics of your trademark social!st dictator. The people’s champ till she gets drunk off the power and realizes she can reward herself instead of giving it to the masses.
Blue Ribbon Teacher says:
November 19, 2018 at 2:07 pm
Pumps will eventually be a mental patient who thinks he’s a doctor.
Or, governor of NJ
Wait, spreading wealth means taking money out of my pocket and spreading it out? Oh, I don’t like this idea anymore when it’s my pocket getting raided. It was much more fun on the way up raiding other people’s pockets.
And just like that….stocks and housing getting beat up by market psychology. It’s really amazing to witness.
It just feeds upon itself.
The truly amazing part is how some never learn their lesson. It goes down and they panic sell every time, instead of strategizing on when to strike and buy on the cheap. They just don’t get it.
The Ocasio-Cortez’s of the world scare the crap out of me and might cause me to actually become a politician. Murphy, I believe at heart is a full blown centrist that only brings up these lefty headlines to feed his political machine. He’s not going to act on that crap, it’s only talk. Murphy is really smart, he’s not going to bring any harm. Ocasio will take down this country’s economy. She has all the characteristics of your trademark social!st dictator. The people’s champ till she gets drunk off the power and realizes she can reward herself instead of giving it to the masses.
lol, Murphy’s given all indicators that he’s going to try to ramp up any tax that he can. He’s already done so with the gas tax. Ocasio-Cortez is the East Coasts new Nancy Pelosi.
If he is doing it from a business standpoint, meaning raising funds to invest, I have to accept the pain for the long term pleasure.
You mean like the pleasure of having salted roads when it snows?
I wonder if the EC bed had oar locks sourced to fit size 8 heels, like the rowboat during the flood?
He got whacked, a mob boss read one of his stories here and figured it must of been him that deflowered his daughter in the bed of his ’67 El Camino.
Pumps’ other personality in the mental hospital.
The Ocasio-Cortez’s of the world scare the crap out of me and might cause me to actually become a politician.
I am working on my manuscript, One Flew Over the Pumkin’s Nest