Group
renews drive for tax convention
Tuesday, September 13, 2005 •
BY TOM HESTER • Star-Ledger
Staff
The coalition of local government
officials, taxpayers and public interest groups that lobbied
unsuccessfully to put the question of a property tax reform
convention on the November ballot vows not to let the issue
die.
William G. Dressel, director of the state
League of Municipalities, said the coalition will hold a
news conference at the Statehouse today to publicize its
push to see the question placed on the ballot in
2006.
"The coalition hopes to generate
grassroots action to convince the candidates for governor,
the Assembly and our incumbent legislators that they need to
take action to make a citizens' convention bill their number
one priority," he said.
In a Star-Ledger/Eagleton-Rutgers poll
taken between Sept. 6 and 9, registered voters identified
reducing property taxes as the top priority for the next
governor. Residents paid an average of $5,517 in property
taxes last year.
"We want to keep this on the front
burner," said former state Sen. Bill Schluter (R-Hunterdon),
who has pushed for a convention for five years. "This will
be a renewed push. We want to stress tax reform in the
campaign."
U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine, the Democratic
candidate for governor, has said he wants to increase
homeowner rebates by 10 percent annually. He, along with
Assembly Democrats, favor a convention.
Doug Forrester, the Republican candidate
for governor, has campaigned to reduce property taxes by 30
percent over three years. He opposes a convention, as do the
Senate and Assembly Republicans.
Corzine and Senate Democrats favor a
special legislative session. Forrester and Assembly
Republicans haven't opposed one, though their focus is on
the 30-in-3 plan.
Tax convention bills passed the Assembly
with the support of the Democratic majority twice in the
past two years, only to die in the Democratic-controlled
Senate.
"I am encouraged these advocates who
worked so hard are still fighting to keep the proposal of a
convention alive," said Assembly Majority Leader Joseph
Roberts (D-Camden), the prime proponent of a convention in
the lower house. "That would represent the single biggest
step in the right direction ... because so many groups see
the status quo to be acceptable."
Bob DeSando, Assembly Republican minority
director, said most Assembly Republicans oppose a convention
because government spending practices would not be discussed
and any recommendations would take one or more years to
implement. "We are looking for an actual resolution," he
said. "That is why we support a special session."
Expected to be presented at the news
conference today are, among others, the AARP, the League of
Women Voters, New Jersey Future, the Citizens for Property
Tax Reform and the mayors of Edison, Plainsboro, Hightstown
and Somerdale.
© 2005 The Star-Ledger. Used by NJ.com with
permission.
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