(TRENTON) – Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald and Assemblymen Wayne DeAngelo and Daniel R. Benson on Thursday called on Gov. Christie to finally let go of his zealous support of tax breaks for millionaires and finally join the Assembly Democratic effort to provide middle-class property tax relief.
The three Democratic lawmakers met Wednesday with a Hamilton family to discuss the Assembly Democratic plan to provide a 20 percent property tax relief credit to middle-class families and a 25 percent property tax relief credit to senior and disabled citizens.
While the Assembly Democratic plan would provide the average middle-class family with about $1,600 and the average senior or disabled resident nearly $2,000, the governor’s office dismissed discussion about the relief as a “partisan publicity stunt” and touted the governor’s opposition.
“The governor’s unyielding determination to give tax breaks to millionaires instead of property tax relief to the middle-class is disturbing, and these remarks are just the latest example of that approach,” said Greenwald (D-Camden/Burlington). “The real ‘partisan publicity stunt’ in New Jersey these days is the governor’s income tax cut scheme that is clearly targeted toward Iowa Republicans and Wall Street CEOs than New Jersey families struggling to afford property taxes that have gone up a net 20 percent on Gov. Christie’s watch. It’s time for the governor to put his conservative politics and national ambitions aside and do the right thing for New Jersey families.”
“It’s understandable the governor wouldn’t want to talk about property taxes, considering how property taxes have soared a net 20 percent under his watch, but at some point he’s going to have to pay attention to hard-working New Jersey families,” said DeAngelo (D-Mercer/Middlesex). “Enough with the defense of tax breaks for millionaires. Let’s join together and provide major property tax relief for middle-class families and seniors.”
“Given this governor’s record of protecting tax breaks for the rich and his support of a presidential candidate who suggests taking away property tax deductions, it’s surprising he doesn’t want to focus on the net 20 percent property tax hike seen under his governorship,” said Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex). “But we’re going to continue fighting for property tax relief for middle-class families and seniors. This is a responsible plan that represents the right thing to do for our hard-working New Jerseyans, and it’s time for the governor to get on board.”
Under the Assembly Democratic plan, residents earning up to $250,000 per year would receive a 20 percent property tax relief credit against the first $10,000 paid in property taxes – resulting in significant and immediate property tax relief to 95 percent of households. The credit would rise to 25 percent for senior citizens and disabled residents. This would provide nearly $1,600 to middle-class families and nearly $2,000 for senior and disabled citizens.
To view the Assembly Democratic plan visit https://www.assemblydems.com/proptax.pdf.
The Assembly Democratic plan helps provide these significant levels of relief by moving 16,000 millionaires back to their fiscal year 2010 income tax rates – eliminating a tax break through which millionaires have received an average of $40,000 per year for each of the past two years.
Christie, meanwhile, has proposed an income tax scheme that would benefit wealthy New Jerseyans the most.
