Monday, March 21, 2011

We can stop the ridiculous myth that Gov. Christie didn’t raise taxes

This governor just delivered the highest property tax increase in four years. He alone is responsible for that through his own policies. It’s worth noting that this painful increase doesn’t even show the impact of the Christie school activity taxes imposed on children and parents throughout our state just to join after-school activities. The governor has failed to make true property tax relief for working class New Jerseyans a priority and we’re starting to see the damage. Gov. Christie is simply making matters worse with his anti-working-class policies.

The 2010 property tax increase had nothing to do with the so-called tool kit. The 2 key tool kit items – the 2 percent cap and arbitration reform – take effect this year and were, by the way, approved as Democratic compromises.

FACT

1. New Jersey property taxes increased 4.1 percent in 2010.
2. This is the highest increase since 2007.
3. New Jersey had a 3.3 percent hike in 2009 and 3.7 percent in 2008.
4. The average property tax bill is now $7,576, up $295.
5. The 2010 increase represented a nearly $1 billion jump in the overall property tax levy - from $24 billion to $25 billion.
6. This increase comes after the governor cut school aid by $1 billion and municipal aid by $446 million.

(This is a direct link to the data: http://www.state.nj.us/dca/lgs/taxes/10_data/10taxsummary.htm)

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