The governor has scheduled a press conference for 3:30 p.m.
Governor Chris Christie leaves his office to go speak to Republicans at the Statehouse in Trenton today.TRENTON — Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver has not signed onto a proposal to limit the rise of property tax increases agreed to by Senate leadership and Gov. Chris Christie.
Oliver, an Essex County Democrat, left the Statehouse earlier this afternoon, after word came of the agreement that would lower the current 4 percent cap on tax increases and limit exceptions.
“The speaker has not been part of any closed-door deal," Assembly spokesman Tom Hester Jr. said in a statement. "As the speaker has said repeatedly, we will thoroughly vet any proposal. The Assembly budget committee will meet on Wednesday to consider proposed legislation that represents the Assembly plan.”
Christie scheduled a press conference today for 3:30 p.m.
The agreement would lower the limit on annual property tax increases to 2 percent, with exceptions for rising costs of pensions and health care, school enrollment increases, debt payments and costs associated with certain emergencies.
The agreement, which has not been officially announced by the Gov. Chris Christie's office, would end a three-day standoff over how to structure tax increase limits in a state with the highest property taxes in the nation.
The deal would also have to be approved by both houses of the Democrat-controlled Legislature.
Christie and lawmakers arrived this morning at the Statehouse for the third day of a special joint legislative session the governor called to force a showdown over property tax reform.
At 10 a.m., Republican senators huddled in caucus while Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) met with Christie. After he left, Republican minority leaders from both houses entered the governor's office.
"Republicans have shown up every day to find real solutions," said state Sen. Tom Kean Jr.(R-Union). "I'm optimistic that real solutions will be found."
Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, a key supporter and close adviser to Oliver, said he had been on the phone with her, Christie and Sweeney pushing for the deal. The non-constitutional cap, along with other reforms, are a home run for local governments trying to keep property tax increases down, he said.
He said he expects all the pieces to come together quickly.
"All we need now is just to see a press conference with the three of them standing there," he said, referring to Oliver, Christie and Sweeney. "This is a great deal for New Jersey. I'm totally supportive of it. There's no question I support this deal. I've been telling them that. It's got to get done."
Christie exited a third-floor meeting with Republican senators at about 11:45 a.m. A group of reporters trailed him to the elevator, but the governor revealed little.
"We'll see," he said when asked if there was a deal.
Christie's spokesman would not comment.
Democrats and Republicans have been at odds over the structure of property tax limits. After Christie on Thursday said he would accept a statutory limit on local property tax increases - by law rather than by constitutional amendment - the sticking points remained the exemptions to the cap.
Sweeney has said it does not make sense to include costs beyond a town's control - such as energy costs and health care - while Christie described those type of exceptions as the holes in a "swiss cheese" policy. Sweeney previously questioned why the percent increase was not lower than 2.5.
Sweeney showed up around 8 a.m., Oliver arrived at 10:45 a.m. The only other Democratic lawmaker seen in the building was Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-Cape May). Sweeney said the two had a scheduled meeting.
Van Drew joked with Republican senators outside the Senate chamber about wearing bathing suits underneath their business clothes while they worked over the July Fourth weekend.
"If I have to, I'll be here every day," he said.
By Lisa Fleisher, Chris Megerian and Josh Margolin/Statehouse Bureau
More coverage:
• Gov. Chris Christie, N.J. Senate leaders reach deal on 2 percent property tax cap
• After day of impromptu meetings in Trenton, fate of proposed property tax cap remains unclear
• N.J. Assembly panel requests more time, testimony to consider Gov. Christie's tax cap
• Special N.J. legislative session kicks off property tax cap showdown
• Gov. Chris Christie's prepared speech to the Legislature