Two veterans-centered legislative initiatives sponsored by Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove concerning property tax relief and housing have been advanced by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee.
Connors, Rumpf and Gove sponsor legislation addressing property tax relief and housing issues related to veterans. (Flickr)
The first measure, S-265, would require the State to annually reimburse each municipality for the cost of providing disabled veterans with a total exemption from property taxation. The 9th District delegation issued the following statement following the Committee’s advancement of the measure:
“This legislation would provide direct property tax relief and would lift an unfunded State mandate that cost municipalities throughout the entire state more than $66,232,734 in 2015.
“The veterans’ property tax exemption provided to eligible 100 percent disabled veterans is a State mandate and, therefore, the state has an obligation to pay the costs associated with the program. For too long, municipalities have shouldered the financial responsibility of this unfunded State mandate to ensure that these honored veterans receive the property tax exemption they are entitled to on account of their service and sacrifice.
“In our Legislative District, 667 veterans received the property tax exemption in 2015, with 202 in Berkeley Township alone. According to data from the New Jersey Division of Taxation, our legislative district would receive $3,412,922 in State funding under our legislation that would serve as desperately needed property tax relief to reimburse municipalities for the cost of providing the property tax exemption. Municipalities would receive funding based on the number of veterans receiving the exemption and the amount of taxes that would have otherwise been due.”
The second measure advanced by the Committee, S-260, would reserve a portion of the tenant-based rental assistance vouchers under the State rental assistance program (SRAP) for grants to veterans.
The delegation made the following remarks regarding the passage of its bipartisan measure:
“Reserving a portion of tenant vouchers through the State Rental Assistance Program for veterans would augment existing State-administered programs, such as the Veterans Transitional Housing Program known as ‘Veterans Haven.’ This is an important step as housing continues to be among the most pressing issues for our veterans.”
Members of the 9th District delegation serve on both the Senate and Assembly Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
Related Facebook Post:
https://www.facebook.com/9thDistrictNJ/posts/10153842346690469
Related Tweet:
https://twitter.com/9thDistrictNJ/status/706948562450563073
Website Post:
https://www.senatenj.com/index.php/district9/committee-advances-two-connors-rumpf-gove-veterans-initiatives/26064
