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Dear Mayor:
League Executive Board Member and Chairman of our Property
Tax Reform Committee, Mayor Gary Passanante of Somerdale,
spoke to hundreds of local elected officials and concerned
citizens from all around the State yesterday on the Statehouse
steps. Also speaking were Scotch Plains Mayor and League
Executive Board Member Marty Marks, Frenchtown Mayor Ron
Sworen and Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer.
Mayors Passanante,
Marks, Sworen and Palmer urged the State Senate to permit
the people of New Jersey to decide for themselves if they
want to empower a special citizens’ convention to propose
meaningful and lasting reforms to remedy our State’s
property tax crisis.
On May 16, the
Assembly passed A-5269, which would put that question on
this November’s ballot. On May 19, Senate President
Codey referred the bill to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
On May 23, it was joined by a companion bill, S-2585. But,
to date, this crucial matter has not even been considered
in the Senate. Unless the Senate acts upon the bills before
it leaves for Summer recess, the people of New Jersey will
be denied the opportunity to address the crisis at this
November’s election.
In part, Mayor
Passanante said, “… I want to thank all of you
for coming to Trenton today to tell your State Senators,
‘You’ve got the bill. You’ve got the power.
Now is the time. LET THE PEOPLE SPEAK.’
“Let the
people speak on whether they want to continue to pay the
highest property taxes in the country. Let the people speak
on whether they want to continue to wait for the Legislature
to do something about it. Let the people speak, THIS
NOVEMBER, on whether they want a special citizens’
convention for true and lasting property tax reform.
“The people
of New Jersey expect the Senate to act on the property tax
convention bill. They need nothing more than that. They
deserve nothing less.”
We urge you
to contact Acting Governor and Senate President Codey at
609-292-6000, as well as your own State Senator on this.
The time for action is running out.
For more information,
contact Jon Moran at 609-695-3481, ext. 21, and visit our
website at www.njslom.com.
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