New bill will limits fees for some services

May 18, 2012

The debate continues in Trenton, and around New Jersey over so called user fees. This past Tuesday, the New Jersey League of Municipalities once again called on the legislators to include more definitive language in the proposed bill, S-1914.
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Water commissioner's at the MUA

May 04, 2012    |  By Staff Writer

In a report received today from the Jackson Municipal Utility Authority, it was revealed that the current salaries of the Jackson Township Municpal Utility Commissioners is $24,500. This is modest compared to the cost of employee benefits which are $90,000 a year. Equally surprising is that only four individuals make up most of these costs.
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Are we angry at the right officials?

April 17, 2012    |  By Press Release

LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES AND

NEW JERSEY STATE GOVERNMENT

(Copy of the 2012 brochure as a PDF)

Many factors determine the level of public services and the amount of property taxes that you pay in your community. And many of those factors are beyond the control of local elected officials. For example, the amount of property tax relief funding that the State redistributes to your municipality directly affects your bill. When your property tax bill goes up and municipal services don't meet your needs, your State Legislators and the Governor can help by making sure that the State is providing your home town with adequate financial aid. Municipal property tax relief funding, as promised by State law, can help to pay for the local services you need and can keep your property taxes from going up—again.

We need to remember that "excessive" spending is not always—or even often—the root cause of rising property taxes. There are numerous mandates, regulations, and other state and federal actions that impact property taxes. (Read More)

New Jersey and Property Taxes, since 1670

April 07, 2012

A SHORT HISTORY OF PROPERTY TAX IN NEW JERSEY

Our local property tax goes back to the colonial period. In 1670, a levy of one half penny per acre of land was imposed for the support of the central government. Until the middle of the 19th Century, property taxes were levied on real estate and certain personal property at arbitrary rates within certain limits, referred to as “certainties.”
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Funding Our Towns

October 31, 2011

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

When she took office on January 18, 1994 her ultimate goal was to see state income taxes reduced by 30 percent within her first three years in office. She went on record as saying that she hoped these cuts would not force municipalities to raise taxes to cover missing state aid, but also said that she would not be responsible if this did happen. And happen it did! (Read More)