Bucco: Give GOP chance at property tax reform

Bucco

By Asm. Anthony M. Bucco

This post originally appeared in the Daily Record

I applaud your newspaper for publishing the “Fight Bank on Property Taxes” editorial bringing attention to New Jersey’s burdensome property tax problem. The editorial board is correct that it is the Legislature’s responsibility to address this problem and unfortunately, under its current Democratic Party leadership, it has been unwilling to do so.

As a three-term member of the Legislature, I have seen firsthand how this system operates. To make it clear to your readers, the Assembly is controlled by the party who has a majority of its members. The Democrats have controlled the Assembly since 2002. As a result, the Assembly Speaker is selected by the Democratic members and appoints the chairperson of each Assembly committee. It should be of no surprise that each of the chairpersons selected by the Speaker are also from the Democratic Party.

Anthony Bucco, Jr. (R-Morris)
Anthony Bucco, Jr. (R-Morris)

The chairs of those committees control which bills are posted for discussion and the Speaker determines the bills to be voted on during each voting session.

While we would all like to believe that good legislation that could have a positive impact on New Jersey’s property tax burden would receive a fair hearing in Trenton, the reality remains that only one party controls the agenda in Trenton. For example, there are nearly 80 bills that have been drafted and introduced by Republican Legislators to lighten the property tax burden on New Jersey families.

At least five of these bills have the potential to significantly reduce property taxes. 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). I have sponsored a bill to allow local governments to opt out of civil service and order furloughs instead of layoffs (A-159), and another Republican measure directs the non-dedicated portion of state realty transfer fee collections to municipal property tax relief (A-2333). One such bill that directly relates to the editor’s point is Assembly Concurrent Resolution 18 which was introduced by Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick. This resolution calls for a special session of the Legislature to consider a long-term, holistic solution to the state’s property tax burden.

As of this writing, none of these Republican proposals have had a hearing in committee or a vote in the Assembly.

As you can see, there is no shortage of Republican ideas for property tax relief and reform currently in the Legislature. They just haven’t been discussed. What is odd is that the Democratic Party leadership vowed to make property tax relief their number one priority when the current legislative session began in January 2014. The questions must be asked of the Assembly’s current leadership why they haven’t even entertained public discussion on any of the above Republican proposals.

As your editorial suggests, it’s time for a change in Trenton. The answer, however, is not to throw everyone out. I suggest that a change in leadership is needed in order to see real property tax relief in New Jersey. I, along with my Assembly Republican colleagues, stand ready to sign the Gannett property tax pledge. More importantly, however, we have already proposed close to 80 bills to reduce property taxes for New Jersey residents.

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Anthony Bucco
About Anthony Bucco 3 Articles
Assemblyman Anthony Bucco (R-Boonton Township) represents New Jersey's 25th Legislative District and serves as Republican Conference Leader.

4 Comments

  1. All these bills are tinkering around the edge of the problem without addressing its root, which is school costs, and not just in Abbott districts. We have too many districts (more than our PA neighbors!), each with dozens of “administrators” leeching salary funds. Naturally, the problem will never be solved as long as NJEA maintains a stranglehold on state Democrats, but at least it must be named openly, letting “it’s for the children!” and “Are you against education?” demagoguery to get as stale and worn out as race card is today. I hoped Christie had the balls for the task, bu he did not.

  2. Hello Matt, this is David Jones here, a candidate in LD14, which you have many times opined that this district is a lost cause. The truth is, LD 14 is either the 3rd or 4th most competitive district in this election cycle. Your previous comments speak for themselves, let your readers decide. You are no different than the leaders in our
    NJ GOP leadership, a defeatist attitude when, instead, we should be looking to find new and fresh leaders. Understand, this comment is not about you or me….let your readers decide. Peace to you and all.

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