O’Scanlon’s Legislation Protecting Seniors Property Tax Break Advances

Legislation sponsored by Senator Declan O’Scanlon that would allow senior citizens to continue to enjoy their “senior freeze” benefit if they downsize to a smaller home was advanced by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee today.

“The Senior Freeze provides needed property tax relief for older homeowners, including many who are struggling to make ends meet on fixed incomes,” said O’Scanlon (R-13). “While the majority of senior citizens live in one- or two-person households, only a small percentage of them reap the savings provided by selling their family home and downsizing.

“This measure will ensure if an eligible homeowner does move to a smaller, more affordable home, it will not jeopardize their reimbursement,” O’Scanlon explained. Read the rest of this entry »

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How Monmouth County Legislators Voted On Busting The Property Tax Cap

Senators Sam Thompson, standing, and Vin Gopal, were the only Monmouth County legislators to vote in favor of busting the 2% property tax cap. Photo via NJ School Boards Association

The New Jersey Senate and Assembly passed legislation on Monday that allows school districts that have lost state funding for their budgets and are spending less annually than what the state considers adequate to raise property taxes above the 2% cap without voters’s consent.  The 2% cap was the hallmark reform of the Christie administration.  The cap busting legislation expires after the 2024-2025 school year.

The bill awaits Governor Phil Murphy’s signature before it becomes law.  Murphy has indicated he is opposed to busting the property tax cap, preferring to raise income taxes on millionaires.

Of the legislators who represent parts of Monmouth County, only Senators Vin Gopal (D-11) and Sam Thompson (R-12) voted in favor of the bill.

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If Murphy Holds Municipal Aid Flat, Can Property Taxes Go Anywhere But Up?

New Jersey’s municipalities are being left out in the cold again by a state budget that seeks to freeze aid to towns at 2010 levels, leaving municipal officials with little choice but to increase property taxes to avoid cutting services. Gov. Phil Murphy’s proposed budget recommends no increase in aid to communities, keeping the level of… Read the rest of this entry »

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Murphy claims bi-partisan support for property tax/charity scheme. Republicans disagree, call for NJ reforms

Marlboro, NJ-With Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty looking like Chris Christie standing behind Donald Trump on Super Tuesday — and four other Democrat mayors standing behind him, Governor Phil Murphy today declared he had bi-partisan support for his plan to have the state’s municipalities set up charities to accept donations in lieu of property taxes.  Murphy said that the recent income tax reform passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump is a tax increase on New Jersey’s middle class.   The scheme he is proposing would, if allowed by the IRS, reverse the impact of the tax reform law’s $10,000 cap on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction.

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O’Scanlon, in final action in the Assembly, makes push for arbitration cap (Video)

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Op-Ed: Jersey Politicians, Can You Hear Us Now?

Joseph Caruso It seems appropriate now, in the wake of the new federal tax law that New Jersey remember the immortal words of Pogo, “We have met the enemy and he is us.” The sentiment is directed at all the state politicians who are crying over the “unfairness” of the new federal tax-reform measure that caps… Read the rest of this entry »

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The IRS has spoken. Can you deduct your 2018 property tax prepayments?

Taxpayers are scrambling to prepay their 2018 property taxes and municipal clerk offices are adding hours to cope with the demand as homeowners look to save money before new limits on state and local tax deductions kick in. It’s not entirely clear yet, however, whether all of those efforts will pay off. Here’s what local government… Read the rest of this entry »

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Christie orders N.J. towns to accept 2018 property tax prepayments

Any New Jersey homeowner rushing to town hall to pay next year’s property tax bills before the new federal tax law kicks in Monday no longer needs to worry about being turned away. Gov. Chris Christie on Wednesday issued an executive order requiring that all municipalities in the state accept 2018 property tax payments and allow… Read the rest of this entry »

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Local governments could “weaken” if this property tax law dies, ratings agency says

Counties and municipalities will feel a budget crunch if the state Legislature doesn’t renew a 2 percent cap on the salaries police and firefighters can win through arbitration, a Wall Street Rating agency warned Wednesday. Echoing local government officials who’ve warned of impending tax hikes and spending cuts if the cap expires Dec. 31, Fitch Ratings… Read the rest of this entry »

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O’Scanlon releases detailed plan to cap property tax hikes and save cops and firefighters jobs

Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon

TRENTON, N.J. – A month after releasing his report of the Arbitration Award Task Force that recommends permanently extending the cap, Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) proposed a comprehensive plan to ensure the policies continue to keep property taxes from rapidly increasing.  He released the following statement:

“If we’re going to be honest, as effective policy makers it’s incumbent upon us to do the hard work, master the facts and policy nuances before us, and present cogent proposals to the public and the legislature. This list of policy proposals is me doing my job.

 “The inescapable logic of permanently tying the arbitration award cap to the property tax cap isn’t hard to grasp.  It is fourth-grade math.  Any candidate or legislator who claims he needs ‘more information’ or that ‘all the facts aren’t in’ is feigning, in most cases, stupidity to avoid responsibility. Parents try to teach their children to reject such self-demoralizing choices. Read the rest of this entry »

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