Washington, D.C. – January 4, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Deputy Assembly Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco challenged Democratic legislative leadership to join him in a New Year’s resolution to make property tax relief for all New Jerseyans a priority in 2016.
“As we turn the calendar to the new year and prepare to begin a new legislative session, it is the perfect time to dedicate the Legislature’s efforts to property tax relief,” said Bucco, R – Morris and Somerset. “Taxpayers in this state have been suffering too long with the highest property taxes in the nation. My colleagues in the Republican caucus have proposed almost 100 bills to cut the burden on property taxpayers, but we can’t do it alone. We need help from the Democrats in the majority to make the state affordable.”
Bucco sponsors legislation (A-159) to allow local governments to opt out of civil service and order furloughs instead of layoffs. It is one of at least five bills that have the potential to significantly reduce property taxes.
Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick sponsors a resolution (ACR-18) calling for a special session of the Legislature to consider a long-term holistic solution to the state’s property tax crisis. There is a bill establishing a new formula for state aid to public school districts based on student enrollment (A-565), and one that eliminates retirement “bonuses” for unused sick leave for public employees (A-158). Another Republican measure directs the non-dedicated portion of state realty transfer fee collections to municipal property tax relief (A-2333).
“The Legislature cannot keep doing the same thing and expecting a different result. That is a definition of insanity. It is time for new priorities,” said Bucco. “I’m urging the Democrats to join with us to make 2016 the year of property tax relief in New Jersey.”
