The League of Women Voters
of New Jersey

a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose purpose is to promote political responsibility
through informed and active participation in government

The League of Women Voters of New Jersey has been active in the field of taxation since the early sixties. Our 1971 consensus recognized that New Jersey's heavy reliance on property taxes creates a regressive tax structure that leads to disparities among communities both in tax rates and services provided. Despite years of effort and passage of a variety of programs, our elected leaders have been unable to reduce New Jersey's over-reliance on property taxes.

A Constitutional Convention will allow substantive debate unencumbered by partisan positions. Such a democratic discussion can only benefit us as citizens and taxpayers. A Constitutional Convention is an appropriate method for assuring serious consideration over a significant period of time of possibilities solutions, building consensus and support for implementing reform. The proposed method for reforming property taxation is controlled by the will of the citizens. Voters must approve convening such a convention. Voters select the delegates to represent them at the convention. Voters approve or reject the recommendation of the Convention for tax reform.

The legislation limits the convention to the issue of over reliance on the property tax and restructuring of revenue sources and delegates are barred from expanding the scope of their work.

The League of Women Voters supports S-478 providing for convening of a State Constitutional Convention to reform the system of property taxation and asks you to release it from committee to the full Senate.

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