Property Tax Stabilization Plan
New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the Country and the main reason is due to the failures of our state assembly members and state senators. Rather than find real solutions they fool us with election time gimmicks. Whether the ANCHOR Program or Homestead rebate, ask yourself one question have your property taxes gone down?
1. Once elected, we will introduce legislation to cap property taxes on all homes owned and lived in by senior citizens.
Rather then your tax rate being calculated on the value of your home, seniors’ property taxes will be set at 4% of their personal income. This will immediately cut seniors’ property taxes, allow them to remain in their home and allow them the security they deserve in retirement.
2. Pass legislation to ensure all municipalities and school boards budgets be independently audited, by independent, nonpolitical auditors.
One reason for our high property taxes is waste, mismanagement and political patronage. Independent auditors will identify duplication of services, unnecessary jobs and positions and political patronage and will recommend cost saving measures. Municipalities and schools who refuse to eliminate clear waste will lose state aid. Taxpayers will no longer be forced to pay for waste and political patronage.
3. Create purchasing cooperatives.
New Jersey has 564 municipalities. Rather than individual towns and school boards buying directly from select vendors and businesses, many of whom also make large campaign contributions to elect officials, the state will screen and designate vendors who offer the best pricing and towns and municipalities will be encouraged to buy directly for designate cooperatives. When you buy in bulk you save money and the saving will help to keep property taxes in check.
4. Consolidation of services.
New Jersey does not need 564 building departments, health departments, library systems and DPWs. By providing towns with incentives to merge services they get to save money, stabilize taxes and reduce redundancies.