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 for taxpayers and also leads to disparities among communities both in tax rates and services provided. Three decades later, New Jersey’s property tax burden has skyrocketed to the highest in the nation and the unintended negative effects have multiplied. Despite years of effort and passage of a variety of programs, our leaders have been unable to reduce New Jersey’s over-reliance on property taxes. Given the state’s fiscal condition, no action by the legislature is likely in the foreseeable future.

A property tax 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 well-researched information on possible solutions as well as building consensus and support for 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. Voters approve or reject the recommendations of the convention delegates for reducing over-reliance on property taxes.

It is critical that no taxation options be removed from consideration. Elected delegates need to examine all possible means of generating revenue to come to consensus on a restructuring of revenue sources in the best interest of citizens and the future of New Jersey. Expressed fears concerning a statewide property tax are a tactic to help defeat the proposed convention rather than a realistic concern. Delegates who spend several months of their lives devising a proposal certainly will not waste their efforts on a plan including a statewide property tax that is certain to be overwhelmingly defeated by citizen voters who already carry the highest property tax burden in the country. Only two of the 50 states have a statewide property tax for education. At a Department of Education conference held Tuesday and Wednesday, three nationally known education funding experts who advise state legislatures on school funding noted that a statewide property tax for education is very unpopular across the nation.

The League of Women Voters of New Jersey believes that S 478 is a better bill than S 1145, which restricts the recommendations of the Convention to alternatives to the current system of property taxation for the purpose of funding the public school system. The property tax problem in New Jersey includes issues of property taxes for municipal and other bodies that must be considered in any effort to restructure the system. The ratable chase, with its massive unintended negative consequences, is carried out at the municipal level, not by school districts.

The League supports the delegate selection process in S 478 that assures a greater diversity of representation by limiting delegates from a legislative district to one currently sitting legislator and one from the same political party. In contrast, S 1145 allows one political party to hold both delegate slots. Party candidates, especially legislators, have numerous advantages including wider recognition, party endorsement, support by party members, and greater access to funding sources. S 478 provides greater opportunity for independent candidates to be elected. It also assures that the delegates for each legislative district will have different backgrounds and differing viewpoints.

Although electing delegates only at general election dates will ensure a greater turnout, it has other less desirable effects. It combines at the same election a vote for convention delegates and a vote for all 120 members of the New Jersey legislature. The combination of the two votes on a single ballot during a major state election is likely to increase partisan electioneering and make it more difficult for non-party affiliated candidates to get radio, television or newspaper coverage. Furthermore, it postpones the convening of the convention by nine months and a vote on the proposed plan by a year.

The League of Women Voters urges committee members to vote yes and release S 478 for a floor vote.

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