SEE MIDJERSEY.NEWS RELATED STORY HERE: $$$ Paying More – Proposed State Tax On Real Estate And Personal Property Is In The Works Included In Assembly # 4175

June 5, 2020

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Reacting to the party-line passage of an unprecedented statewide property tax and borrowing scheme that could add $14 billion to the state’s debt, Assemblymen Ron Dancer and Rob Clifton blasted Gov. Phil Murphy and Assembly Democrats for their out of touch devotion to raising taxes on the backs of ordinary residents.
 
“We opposed the bill because it is plainly unconstitutional under previous rulings by the New Jersey state Supreme Court,” said the pair of Jersey Shore legislators. “It is also unconscionable to borrow, spend and tax prior to even considering any realistic and achievable cost savings.”
 
The Assembly passed  A-4175 by a vote of 51- 28, which would authorize more than $14 billion in borrowing without voter approval and create a three decade long “statewide property tax Increase” to pay for that borrowing.
 
Dancer and Clifton along with their 26 Republican colleagues all opposed the bill while assembly Democrats fell into lockstep behind Murphy’s money grab.
 
“This unconstitutional act, as well as the financially irresponsible imposition of a statewide property tax, cannot be permitted to stand and I am proud to have stood for our taxpayers opposing it,” said Dancer (R- Ocean).
 
“Fish need to swim and birds need to fly, and Phil Murphy and Democrats need to raise taxes,” said Clifton (R-Monmouth). “Once again, Phil Murphy has shown himself to be a one-trick pony and that trick only harms New Jersey taxpayers.”
 
It is expected that the bill will draw a court challenge over its constitutionality citing a 2004 N.J. Supreme Court decision against a similar borrowing attempt by then Democrat Gov. Jim McGreevey.