Corzine Can't Hide From Shameful Property Tax Record

Voters in New Jersey, where property taxes have risen relentlessly every year of Governor Jon Corzine's administration, are too smart to believe the governor's wild campaign claims of tax relief, said state Senator Jennifer Beck and Assembly members Declan O'Scanlon and Caroline Casagrande, Republicans of District 12.

"Only during an election campaign would a governor boast about policies that are responsible for not just property tax increases of at least 3 to 4 percent but growth in citizens' overall tax burden each year of his administration," Beck said. "New Jersey continues to pay the highest property taxes in the United States of America, and this Governor's legacy will be one of taxes and lost jobs."

Incredibly, Corzine's claims come as he prepares to eliminate property tax rebates for 1.7 million people, end the deduction of property taxes from the state income tax for thousands more New Jersey residents, and cut municipal aid desperately needed to keep local property taxes in check. O'Scanlon and Casagrande said voters aren't fooled. Home owners know the governor never made a serious effort to meet his 2005 election promise of 40 percent increases in property tax rebates.

"This governor demanded a huge sales tax increase in 2006 before he would support restoration of rebates," O'Scanlon said. "He cut rebates the very next year and now plans to cut them more. The rebate will disappear for most New Jerseyans during this recession, when they need it most. Only the outrageous sales tax increase will remain to slow our recovery."

"An analysis of the governor's budget shows it will force many residents of my district to pay the highest taxes of their lifetimes," Assemblywoman Casagrande said. "The governor has done nothing to reduce the size of government. Instead, he is setting the stage for huge property tax increases by pushing expenses into the future."

All three legislators condemned the governor's refusal to cut back on unneeded patronage employees in his administration, a move that could save at least $65 million. They also criticized the governor for not making significant cuts in so-called "Distressed Cities Aid." This program allows a handful of towns controlled by Democrat machines to continue wasteful spending while well-managed, honestly run towns are forced to lay off employees and cut back on services. Republican analysts have determined that about $100 million could be saved by scaling back "Distressed Cities" program to reasonable levels.

"Money that could be used to reduce property taxes and restore rebates for many is being squandered by the politically favored few," Beck said.

"Property tax relief will never come if Governor Corzine is allowed to tout half-hearted and ineffective policies as tax reform," O'Scanlon said.

"No governor should get away with making election-year claims that have no basis in fact," Casagrande said. "The governor owes the citizens of New Jersey an honest assessment of the impending fiscal disaster that he is creating by delaying all our liabilities past his next election."