PANEL CLEARS WEBBER BILL EXPOSING IMPACT OF UNFUNDED MANDATES ON TAXPAYERS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – (RealEstateRama) — Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Jay Webber to track the financial burden of unfunded state and federal mandates on counties and towns was released today by the Appropriations Committee. The bill (A1034) requires the Department of Community Affairs to compile a list, updated annually, of all unfunded mandates on local and county governments, including the estimated cost.

“Taxpayers deserve to know the costs of programs and regulations that are forced upon municipalities but paid for through local property taxes,” said Webber (R—Morris). “This measure increases transparency on these expenses that municipal and county governments cannot control.”

The National Conference of State Legislatures reported that Congress shifted at least $131 billion in costs to states between 2004 and 2008. A study by the Congressional Budget Office in 2014 reported that of the 539 bills analyzed, 47 contained intergovernmental mandates.

“Too often, federal and state government passes the buck to local government, directing the implementation of costly laws or policies without consideration of how the directive will be funded,” Webber said. “The cost of these mandates lands directly on the shoulders of property taxpayers who already struggle under the highest tax bills in the country.”

In March, Webber’s bill was unanimously supported by the Assembly State and Local Government Committee.