Special Session Continues

The four joint legislative committees charged with devising recommendations to ease New Jersey’s property tax crunch still are in the midst of fact-finding and deliberation.

Although no substantial action has taken place, the appointed committees have until Nov. 15 to conclude their meetings. At that point, they are expected to devise recommendations to be considered by the Legislature.

Tangibles Elusive The committees have a shared goal: To come up with tangible ways to cut New Jersey property taxes, which average $6,000 per household. Still in the mix is a half-billion dollars in the state’s reserves that is expected to be used for property tax relief. The money resulted from the 1-cent sales tax increase that went into effect in July. No decision has been made about how that money would be used.

The concepts discussed by the committees to date, include:

• Merge the state's local school districts into 21 county units.
  
  
• Consolidate local school board functions, such as pupil transportation or purchasing, into the county superintendents’ offices.
  
  
• Create a maximum percentage of income per household that could go toward property taxes.
  
  
• Tax only a percentage of total property value.
  
  
• Eliminate funding disparities between poor school districts and others.
  
  
• Give newly hired public workers 401(k)-type retirement plans instead of public pensions.

Looking Ahead Upcoming joint committee meetings include:

Constitutional Reform and Citizens Property Tax Constitutional Convention, 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, Ballroom and Theatre at Collingswood. Public testimony invited.

Public School Funding Reform, 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3, Committee Room 11, 4th Floor, Statehouse Annex, Trenton. NJSBA and other organizations have been invited to comment on special education costs and placement.

Government Consolidation and Shared Services, 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, Committee Room 11, 4th Floor, Statehouse Annex.

Public Employee Benefits Reform: No meeting scheduled.

For information, visit NJSBA's Special Session site online.