(TRENTON) – Five Assembly Democratic property tax reform bills spearheaded by Assemblyman John McKeon will be considered Monday by an Assembly committee examining unfunded state mandates that help drive up property taxes.
The Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee chaired by McKeon is scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 27 in Committee Room 11, State House Annex in Trenton.
The hearing will be streamed live at: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/media/live_audio.asp.
“Unfunded mandates and unnecessary regulations like these have helped shove New Jersey property taxes to unacceptable levels,” said McKeon (D-Essex). “With these changes, we will bring real savings to property taxpayers without spending a dime, simply by easing mandates that no longer serve their purpose or are simply too burdensome.”
The bills would:
· Allow more groups to file complaints against unfunded state mandates (A-3204).
· Give municipalities discretion in implementing Municipal Court security plans (A-3268).
· Make clear that the Attorney General will represent county constitutional officers in actions brought against the officer in the scope of the officer’s employment (A-3269).
· Allow public record custodians to require a 50 percent or other deposit when a request for reproducing records exceeds $25, to help cover costs when requested documents aren’t retrieved (A-3270).
· Save municipalities money by revising master plan re-examination requirements (A-3272).
McKeon has been working on the bills with fellow committee members Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer), Peter J. Barnes III (D-Middlesex), Pamela R. Lampitt (D-Camden) and Charles Mainor (D-Hudson).
Assemblymen Fred Scalera (D-Essex/Bergen/Passaic) and John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester/Cumberland/Salem) joined McKeon as the sponsor of A-3204.
McKeon was asked during the summer by Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver (D-Essex/Passaic) to lead an Assembly examination of state mandates that help drive up property taxes.
Monday’s meeting will be the third hearing held by McKeon on the topic.
