Myers: Adler-Corzine Affordable Housing Mandate Will Increase Property Taxes & Pave-Over Open Space

Myers: Adler-Corzine Affordable Housing Mandate Will Increase Property Taxes & Pave-Over Open Space

Candidate blasts job-killing new tax on local economic development projects

          Mount Laurel, July 17, 2008-Medford Mayor and congressional candidate Chris Myers today called on suburban taxpayers and elected officials throughout South Jersey to rally against the costly, new affordable housing mandate being shoved down their collective throats by Governor Corzine, John Adler and a tax and spend Trenton Political Machine that is systematically destroying the quality of life in New Jersey.

          Repeating a theme he sounded earlier this week, Myers said: "There is absolutely nothing affordable about this so-called affordable housing bill for working families and seniors on a fixed income currently residing in suburban communities and struggling every day to make ends meet; in fact, it's a multi-billion dollar property tax increase jammed down our throats courtesy of career Trenton politicians like John Adler, and a Governor who is wildly out-of-touch with the hardworking taxpayers of this State."

          Myers, who was joined by Senator Phil Haines, Assemblyman Scott Rudder, Mount Laurel Mayor John Drinkard, and a contingent of local officials, cited recent numbers from the State that indicate the 52 municipalities that comprise the 3rd Congressional District will be forced to build a minimum of 11,397 new affordable housing units (spreadsheet attached).  At an average for $237,471 per unit in COAH Region V, these new units would cost in excess of $2.7 billion just to build, and untold billions more to pay for the cost of new schools, police, fire, emergency services, roads and water/sewer plants-with taxpayers footing the bill.

          "Taking away the option of RCA's (Regional Contribution Agreements) and force-feeding towns with this kind of development is just the latest symptom of a state government that is spiraling out-of-control and doesn't have any regard for the ever-increasing burden its placing on property taxpayers, especially seniors on a fixed income," said Senator Haines.

          "When it comes to suburban taxpayers, all John Adler and Jon Corzine's Trenton does is take, take, take," said Assemblyman Rudder.  "Take our tax dollars, take our open space, and take our quality of life.  It's time to draw a line in the sand; and this is it.  I'm proud to stand here today with Chris Myers and these fine people and say enough is enough."

         In the midst of a tough economy, the legislation calls for a 2.5% tax on all commercial development-which Myers described as "a job killer that will cripple local economies"-and will mandate municipalities to build 1 affordable housing unit for every 5 residential homes built and 1 for every 16 jobs created.

          "I support providing affordable housing to people," said Myers, adding that, while not perfect, RCA's were a much more well-reasoned way to address the issue.  "But like most other things that come out of Trenton, this plan is just another unfunded mandate being forced upon municipalities and taxpayers without regard for its long-term consequences."

          One of those consequences Myers referred to was driven home by Mount Laurel Mayor John Drinkard who said the new affordable housing legislation presents a direct and real threat to the thousands of acres of open space his township-and others like his-have preserved at behest of taxpayers.

            "This legislation is going to force towns like Mount Laurel to shoehorn in affordable housing units even if we have no buildable land left," said Drinkard, who called Mount Laurel's mandate of 1,421 units "an outrage and affront to property taxpayers."  "That means our open space, recreation areas and parks are at-risk of being paved over to make way for housing that is going to drive up our taxes and ruin our quality of life-all without the people who live here having a say in the matter."

           Mount Laurel Council candidate, Linda Bobo said the cost of educating thousands of new students and building new schools to house them is mind-boggling.

           "It costs an average of $11,320 to educate one child in this State," said Bobo.  "If you assume two children per unit and multiply that by 1,421 units, Mount Laurel homeowners will be saddled with a $32 million property tax increase.  That's doesn't even factor in the enormous cost of building the new schools such an influx of children would necessitate.  It's a nightmare scenario all the way around."

           Pemberton Councilman Thomas Inge and former Cherry Hill mayoral candidate Phil Guerreri echoed those sentiments.

           "First the Trenton politicians cut nearly $350,000 in property tax relief from my town in this year's budget, and now they are forcing us to build hundreds of new housing units-and pay for them!  When is enough, enough already?" questioned Inge.

           "Visit Cherry Hill; look around.  We don't have room to build these new units," lamented Guerreri.  "That means our open space and parks-the last slivers of green space we have left in Cherry Hill- are on the chopping block.  It makes you ask the question: Do Adler, Corzine and these people in Trenton have any idea what they are doing?  Even worse, do they care?
  

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