The tour starts Monday in Hoboken and will continue around the state
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie speaks to the Conference of Mayors Annual Luncheon Meeting in this April 2010 photo.
TRENTON -- Gov. Chris Christie on Monday will kick off a series of town hall-style meetings around the state to discuss his property tax plans.
Christie will hold the first question-and-answer session at a school in Hoboken. The tour will continue through the the height of state budget season next month, but it's unclear whether Christie will stop in every county, said his spokesman, Michael Drewniak. The Republican governor and Democrats who control the Legislature must produce a balanced budget by June 30.
Christie wants to limit annual property tax increases to 2.5 percent, while reining in public employee salaries and benefits. But he needs 21 votes in the Senate and 41 votes in the Assembly to pass the reforms. Voters would also have to approve the constitutional property tax cap.
Christie's predecessor, Jon Corzine, also tried the town-hall tactic to sell a signature initiative. But his 2008 tour -- to pitch a plan to pay down debt through greater highway tolls -- was stopped midstream amid push-back from the public and the Legislature.
Previous Coverage:
• Gov. Chris Christie proposes 2.5 percent annual property tax cap in 33-bill package
• N.J. Democrats, Gov. Christie propose dueling tax plans
• N.J. town, school officials vent about budget cuts, property tax hikes
• Gov. Chris Christie tells N.J. mayors to prepare for 2.5 percent cap on property tax hikes
• Complete coverage of the 2010 New Jersey State Budget
| Gov Christie calls S-L columnist thin-skinned for inquiring about his 'confrontational tone' |
| Christie rejects Democrats' rich tax proposal, calls it a 'one-year fix' |
| N.J. Democrats call for millionaires to contribute to 'shared sacrifice' in tax hike proposal |