Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, above, says 'imperfect' bill needs more exemptions to prevent closures, layoffs, service cuts
Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) (top) speaks with Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Morris) (left) and Rick Wright (right), Executive Director of the Assembly Republican Office in the Assembly Chamber at the State House Monday afternoon.TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie plans to sign landmark legislation today that will limit annual property tax growth to 2 percent, but Assembly Democrats who just approved the bill are vowing to make changes.
The Assembly on Monday overwhelmingly passed the cap, though Democrats called it "imperfect" and said they would introduce legislation to soften it. But a spokesman for Christie indicated the governor is not eager to sign on to any changes.
"Where does it end?" asked Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak, who said the Legislature needs to focus instead on Christie’s proposed "tool kit" legislation to help towns bring down costs to meet the cap.
"We do not want to weaken a bill that was the result of a reasonable amount of compromise," he said.
"We really need to do the legislation right the first time," said Wisniewski, who also is the state Democratic chairman. "And we’ve got a guy down the hall, the governor, who I don’t think is in tune with any of the cleanup legislation."
Assembly Democrats warned that without more exceptions to the cap, towns would be forced to shut senior centers, lay off more teachers and make other severe service cuts.
"Without question, we will have to take legislative measures to perfect this bill," said Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex).
The bill halves the property tax cap from 4 percent to 2 percent and cuts out most of the current law’s loopholes, allowing exceptions only for pension and health insurance costs, increased school enrollment, debt payments and states of emergency. Towns also can exceed the cap by a majority vote in a referendum.
Assembly Democrats want towns to add exemptions for further cuts in municipal and school aid, to pay for reserve funds for uncollected taxes and for extraordinary special education costs. They also want to exempt already-negotiated contracts.
The Assembly vote was 73-4. All four no votes came from Democrats — Patrick Diegnan (D-Middlesex), Annette Quijano (D-Union), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer) and John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex).
But Oliver, in an interview immediately after the vote, said the Assembly would use its "leverage" on future Christie priorities to try to win further changes. She said Christie has assured her "his mind is open," and Republican lawmakers share some of Democrats’ concerns. Oliver said many Democrats were hesitant to vote for the bill in its current form "because they don’t have a guarantee" that the governor will make further adjustments.
"It hasn’t been written in blood," she said. "To take it on a handshake is a difficult thing."
Christie has not ruled out more exemptions. He stressed throughout the cap debate he is willing to compromise as long as changes do not violate his "core principles." His spokesman Monday said: "We will consider any reasonable proposals."
A spokesman for Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) said he wants to see the cap in place "as passed," but noted he has introduced legislation creating an advisory panel to track its progress.
Christie has not ruled out more exemptions. He stressed throughout the cap debate he is willing to compromise as long as changes do not violate his "core principles." His spokesman Monday said: "We will consider any reasonable proposals."
A spokesman for Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) said he wants to see the cap in place "as passed," but noted he has introduced legislation creating an advisory panel to track its progress.
By Matt Friedman and Claire Heininger/Statehouse Bureau