TRENTON — After four months of debate, dozens of hours of testimony, a special legislative session and a conditional veto from Gov. Chris Christie, it took the Democrat-controlled state Senate just 47 minutes and 15 seconds Thursday to adopt a compromise to cut the state’s current property tax cap in half and eliminate most of its loopholes. "This wasn’t...
Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean (R-Union) and other senate Republicans listen as Senator Ron Rice (far left) speaks out against the 2 percent property tax cap in the Senate Chamber at the Statehouse Thursday morning. TRENTON — After four months of debate, dozens of hours of testimony, a special legislative session and a conditional veto from Gov. Chris Christie, it took the Democrat-controlled state Senate just 47 minutes and 15 seconds Thursday to adopt a compromise to cut the state’s current property tax cap in half and eliminate most of its loopholes.
"This wasn’t easy for anyone. This was a compromise," said Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester). "I don’t think (Christie) can run around claiming he won. I can’t run around claiming we won. The taxpayers won."
The Senate voted 36-3 to approve Christie’s conditional veto of an earlier bill that met the conditions of a compromise reached between the governor and Sweeney on Saturday. Three senators voted no: Ronald Rice (D-Essex), Bob Smith (D-Middlesex) and Shirley Turner (D-Mercer). Sen. Nia Gill (D-Essex) was absent.
The measure now moves to the state Democrat-controlled Assembly, which has scheduled a Monday vote. Assembly Democratic leaders have publicly expressed support for it.
New Jersey voters consistently cite property taxes as their number one issue in polls. In 1999, the statewide average was $4,239. It was $7,281 last year.
The modified version of the cap would lower the ceiling on property tax growth from 4 percent to 2 percent a year and allow towns to exceed it only for pension and health care costs, debt service payments and states of emergency. Otherwise, local voters would have to accept exceeding the cap by a simple majority in a referendum.
Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) is congratulated by Senator Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex) in the Senate Chamber at the Statehouse Thursday morning.Christie’s original proposal was to put a question on the ballot in November to place a 2.5 percent cap in the state constitution with exceptions only for debt service. The compromise, reached Saturday during a special legislative session Christie called, does it through law, which is easier to change than a constitutional amendment.
The Legislature will now consider Christie’s proposed "tool kit" package of Legislation to help towns bring costs in line with the cap. Sweeney, who said Democrats will introduce some of their own ideas, expects to have a "solution" by the fall.
Christie’s proposed reforms include allowing towns to opt out of the civil service system, but Sweeney said he was not open to that. "I won’t support eliminating civil service. But can civil service be modernized? Sure it can. Can it be brought up to current standards? Absolutely," he said.
Democrats who voted against the cap said it could harm towns without building in other cost controls.
"I’m all for 2 percent when it comes to low fat milk, but not when it comes to this bill today," said state Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Mercer).
Most lawmakers said it was a step in the right direction.
"New Jersey residents will finally have predictability and control when it comes to their property tax bill," said Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R-Union).
Related coverage:
• N.J. local officials worry about fate of 2 percent property tax cap 'tool kit'
• N.J. mayors tell Assembly panel 2 percent property tax cap will burden towns
• N.J. Assembly Speaker announces official support for 2 percent property tax cap
• Gov. Christie pushes Democratic lawmakers to pass bills coping with property tax cap
• N.J. lawmakers' plan for 2 percent property tax cap inches closer to reality
• Gov. Christie issues conditional veto of property tax bill in deal with N.J. Dems
Related video:
| N.J. Senate debates 2 percent property tax cap |