The Legislature can take action now to lower and reform property taxes

Senator Steve Oroho and Assemblymen Parker Space and Hal Wirths once again reiterated their support for a special legislative session to reform New Jersey’s high property taxes after the announcement by Governor Phil Murphy and Democrat legislators that New Jersey will be joining a lawsuit with fellow high tax and uncompetitive states New York and Connecticut against the Trump administration over SALT deductions.

“Once again the Murphy administration is not taking action on meaningful property tax reform,” said Oroho, R-Sussex, Warren, Morris. “Working with Senators from both parties, we have crafted proposals set forth both in the Path to Progress and the Senate Republicans’ ‘Every Child Counts’ school funding reform plan. We should be debating and voting on these plans.

“Solving our property tax crisis is the number one issue New Jersey faces and once again waiting around for lawsuits and fighting over technicalities is not getting the job done," Oroho said. “Even if New Jersey wins this lawsuit, we need to do what is right and provide meaningful, lasting property tax relief and reform.”

Oroho, Space, and Wirths support legislation to call the Legislature into a special session where leaders of both parties bring bills forward for an up or down vote. The legislation is SCR-38 and ACR-87.

“In the Assembly, Hal and I have 100 bills that would lower the property tax burden in this State. All of these measures, many with bipartisan support, should be given the chance to be debated and voted upon immediately,” said Space, R-Sussex, Warren, Morris. “New Jersey taxpayers can’t take high property taxes anymore.”

Assemblyman Wirths, serving on the Assembly Appropriations Committee, said it is still amazing the lack of intensity by the majority party to actually get something done soon and the misplaced priorities by Murphy and his Democrat allies.

“We all know the Murphy administration does not have its priorities straight,” said Wirths. “Our towns are going to see property taxes increase as a result of his two state budgets and the cuts to school aid while millions of taxpayer dollars are being funneled to groups to help illegal immigrants who are already receiving preferential treatment. Time and time again, our taxpayers have been asked to pay more out of their own pockets to fund Governor Murphy’s liberal agenda.

“We need real leadership that will call the legislators in to a special session to start passing bills to lower our tax burden immediately,” Wirths reiterated. “Steve, Parker, and I have taken this issue head on and there should be no excuses anymore.”