Top 10 Proposals
PROPERTY TAX
REFORM PROPOSALS TO THE NJ LEGISLATURE
Property
tax reform has been and continues to be the central issue facing New
Jersey taxpayers. On November 12, 2004, The Silver Brigade (now NJTA)
formally announced the release of the organization’s TOP 10 legislative
proposals. The proposals were developed to effect real property tax
reform for all New Jersey property owners and taxpayers. Following the
announcement, several members dropped off a hard copy of the full
proposal to then Acting Governor Codey’s West Orange, NJ office.
Here is
an overview of the ten proposals:
1.
Legislative action versus
Constitutional Convention
SYNOPSIS:
Provides for
convening of State constitutional convention to reform system of
property taxation while requiring immediate action by the legislature in
the interim period.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this proposal is:
-
To allow for the current constitutional convention to proceed along
its current path in order to address and hopefully meet strategic
future needs for long-term property tax reform.
-
To address specific tactical needs in the interim.
-
To allow the elected members of the Legislature to perform the duties,
regarding this important issue, under the existing State Constitution
and to apply its language in a straight forward manner now.
-
To, in accordance with the above, abide by the current State
Constitution and place the fiscal decisions where stipulated within
it, by law, rather than the recent process of relinquishing that
authority and duty to the state court system.
2.
School Board & Fire elections timing
SYNOPSIS:
Changes date of
primary and fire district elections in FY2006 beginning July 1, 2005 to
the third Tuesday in April to correspond with annual School Board/Budget
votes.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of
this proposal is:
-
To effect a cost savings to the
taxpayers of New Jersey by lowering the number
of elections held.
-
To increase the percentage of voter
turnout and thus effect the enhancement of
the democratic process
and outcome.
-
To move New Jersey’s primary elections
into a competitive time-frame with the
rest of the country during the presidential primary process.
3.
Education
Commissioner’s Override Power over voters
SYNOPSIS:
Eliminates public school district budget reduction appeals to
Commissioner of Education.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this proposal is:
-
To restore to the
resident voters in a school district the final say, through their
elected municipal officials, of the voters' rejection of any school
budget submitted to them for approval.
-
To remove the power of
the Commissioner of Education to subvert the will of the resident
voters by approving a rejected budget or any part thereof upon appeal
to the Commissioner.
4.
Regional/Centralized Purchasing Units for Local
Government and
School
Districts
SYNOPSIS:
Provides a venue for all state and local governments and
agencies (including school districts) to participate in a State managed
purchasing process.
PURPOSE:
The
purpose of this proposal is:
-
To assure that all
state and local government entities (including school districts) are
acquiring goods and services at the best possible prices, terms and
conditions within a competitively bid process.
-
To hold various
elected officials accountable for the legitimacy of annual expenditures
and best business practice processes.
-
To eliminate
variances in the expenditures for similar or identical goods and
services among state and local governments and school districts.
-
To provide the
citizens and taxpayers the ability to intelligently evaluate the above.
5.
EXPENDITURE
LIMITATION AMENDMENT PROPOSAL
SYNOPSIS:
Amends
Constitution to require that bills with net effect of raising State
revenues by proposing a new State tax or a State tax increase pass each
House of Legislature by two-thirds majority vote and if exceeding
the annual cost of living index, be voted upon by the public in a
special election.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this proposal is:
6.
VOTER
APPROVAL OF STATE DEBT
SYNOPSIS:
Amends
Constitution to mandate that bills with net effect of raising State
revenues by a State tax increase exceeding the annual cost of living
index be voted upon by the public in a special election.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this proposal is:
7.
Joint Revenue
Forecasting Methods and Integrity
measurement
criteria
SYNOPSIS:
Establishes a by-partisan joint legislative and executive branch
State Revenue
Forecasting Integrity Commission to provide a revenue forecast for
annual State budget.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this proposal is:
-
To allow all
parties (elected officials) access to the revenue forecasting process
and a voice in the final determination.
-
To hold various
elected officials accountable for the legitimacy of annual budgetary
process.
-
To provide the
citizens and taxpayers the ability to intelligently evaluate the above.
8.
Performance
Audits of State/Local Governments
Expands duties of State
Auditor to include performance audits at request of legislator;
establishes Performance Audit Committee, consisting of eight public
members, to help conduct performance audits of state and local
governments including school districts.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this proposal is:
-
To assure that all
state and local government entities (including school districts) are
adhering to generally accepted oversight and fiscally responsible
standards.
-
To hold various
elected officials accountable for the legitimacy of annual budgetary and
business practice processes.
-
To provide the
citizens and taxpayers the ability to intelligently evaluate the above.
9.
Ban/Manage
Pay-To-Play
SYNOPSIS:
Provides for a
permanent end solution to the continuing problems associated with the
Pay-To-Play issue and how it negatively impacts the cost of government
and thus increases taxes, within the state and municipalities of New
Jersey.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this proposal is:
-
To make Pay-To-Play illegal throughout the state, counties,
municipalities and school districts of New Jersey, period.
