February 25, 2009
Contact: Katie Cocozza / (732) 840-9028Assemblyman Dave Wolfe (R-10), Assemblyman Jim Holzapfel (R-10)
Property Tax, Fiscal Reports Overdue
Assemblyman David Wolfe and Assemblyman James Holzapfel (both R-10) today said they want to know why the Corzine Administration has not yet released two annual reports detailing individual municipal property tax increases and the status of state revenues.
Each year, the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) lists on its website in mid-January property tax increase information for each of the state’s 566 municipalities for the previous year. To date, the 2008 data has not been posted.
In addition, the state Treasury Department has not yet released its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2008 which includes, among other things, the independent auditor’s report on basic financial statements, management’s discussion and analysis, government-wide financial statements and budgetary schedules. The report also includes statistical information such as financial trends, revenue capacity, debt capacity and demographic, economic and operating information.
“These reports contain information that should be readily available to the public and members of the Legislature, especially as we head into another budget session,” said Wolfe, a member of the Assembly Budget Committee. “I would like to know where is the transparency in government that Governor Corzine promised us?
“The shroud of secrecy under which this administration governs is highly disturbing,” Wolfe, R-Ocean and Monmouth continued. “This isn’t by any means the first time that Republican lawmakers have had to request reports that should have already been available to them and to the public.”
“The DCA property tax report is late,” stated Holzapfel, R-Ocean and Monmouth. “In a state where homeowners pay the highest property taxes in the nation, I’d say that’s rather suspect. Why not release the data so we can all see just how much rates have increased despite the so-called “reform and relief” the governor and Democrats said they provided two years ago.”
“I don’t think it’s any coincidence that the DCA report is no where to be found even as media reports circulate that property tax rebates are on Governor Corzine’s budget chopping block,” added Wolfe. “Not only do the rates continue to climb each year, but it’s highly probable that middle class families will see no relief with the next budget. I don’t want rhetoric about transparency. I want to see the actual numbers.”
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