While the nation this week celebrated the 20th anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-Camden/Gloucester) today noted, with sadness, that this is the first time in years that New Jersey’s disabled residents will not be receiving a much-needed Homestead Property Tax Rebate due to Governor Christie’s budget cuts.
Moriarty sponsored a bill (A20) earlier this year that was promptly vetoed by the Governor, which would have restored property tax rebates for over 500,000 disabled and senior citizen homeowners and over 100,000 disabled and senior citizen tenants during calendar year 2010. On average, disabled homeowners would have received a rebate of roughly $1,300, while tenants would have received roughly $700.
“This is historically the time of year when the state begins to mail out property tax rebates to eligible residents. This year, the mailboxes of some of our most vulnerable residents will be empty. Meanwhile, the bank accounts of our wealthiest residents will not. Rather than increase income taxes on 16,000 millionaires in New Jersey, the Governor chose to take away heavily-relied upon rebates for the disabled, many of whom earn less than $50,000.
“It is all the more sad that as the nation celebrates 20 years of advancements for individuals suffering with disabilities, the Governor has chosen to take a giant step backwards and eliminate a vital lifeline that helps many remain self-sufficient.”