Senator Christopher Connors, Assemblyman Brian Rumpf, and Assemblywoman DiAnne Gove have signed on as co-sponsors to companion legislation, S-330 and A-1012 that would restore $331 in state aid to municipalities for the purpose of property tax relief.

Senator Christopher Connors, Assemblyman Brian Rumpf, and Assemblywoman DiAnne Gove have signed on as co-sponsors to companion legislation that would restore state aid to municipalities for the purpose of property tax relief. (Pixabay)

The funding restoration would be spanned out over a two-year period under the provisions of the legislation through the “Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Act.” The legislation requires additional aid to be subtracted from the municipal property tax levy.

The 9th District Delegation issued the following statement:

“State aid that was intended to be distributed to municipalities to control property taxes has been reduced substantially since the economic crisis of 2008.  Since then, Trenton has held this aid to fill its our coffers instead of returning it to taxpayers.

“As a long-term consequence, municipalities have been forced to make difficult fiscal decisions while Trenton increased state spending at a reckless pace.  Having fought these aid cuts, our Delegation remains extremely frustrated especially as the state underfunds local school districts at the same time.  On a daily basis, we see the representatives of our exceedingly well run constituent municipalities working hard to control costs and taxes in service to local residents, unlike Trenton.

“With the current economic situation, even Trenton is waking up to the long-known fact that taxpayers are in dire need of tax relief.   Residents were already dealing with the financial hardships created by higher gas prices, tolls hikes, property tax increases and more expensive utility costs that are only being compounded by inflation.  An affordability crisis existed in the state before these dynamics were in play, making the current situation even more severe for those residents who are at their financial breaking point.

“It’s important to note that the property tax provision we are supporting has bi-partisan sponsorship in both the Senate and the Assembly.  Bipartisan sponsorship, coupled with the fact that the Senate has advanced the legislation through the committee process, could represent a shift in Trenton’s policy mindset that taxpayers need tax relief, not tax increases, larger government, or more executive orders.”