Proponents
of tax convention work overtime
Citizen groups to try to push
lawmakers back into session to put question on ballot
Tuesday, July 05, 2005 • BY TOM HESTER •
Star-Ledger Staff
State lawmakers started their summer
recess this past weekend without approving a question for
voters on whether to hold a constitutional convention to
attack New Jersey's sky-high property taxes.
Proponents of a convention are refusing
to declare the idea dead, however. They say they will press
lawmakers to return by early next month to vote for
legislation that would put the question on the November
ballot.
"We are obviously extremely disappointed
that the most pressing issue facing the taxpayers has not
been dealt with," said William G. Dressel, director of the
New Jersey State League of Municipalities. "But we are not
ready to throw in the towel until the final
deadline."
Lawmakers have until Aug. 12 to place the
question onto the Nov. 8 ballot.
The Assembly in May approved the question
-- which would ask voters if they want a convention next
year at Rutgers University -- but the measure quickly
stalled in the Senate, where there is little support among
Democrats for a convention. Majority Leader Bernard J. Kenny
(D-Hudson) said Senate Democrats would rather see Senate
President and acting Gov. Richard Codey call for a special
session to confront the property tax problem.
Democratic senators familiar with the
convention idea said Codey has no plan to move the proposal
or call for a special session on property taxes before he
leaves office in January.
Codey's spokeswoman, Kelley Heck, said:
"The governor has been working to build a consensus around
several sticking points in the Senate majority caucus. I do
not believe a consensus has been reached at this
point."
Proponents of a convention will meet this
month to map strategy aimed at getting Codey and the
Legislature to approve the convention proposal, Dressel
said. The League of Municipalities, AARP, the League of
Women Voters, and citizen taxpayer groups are to take part
in the strategy session.
Former state Sen. William Schluter
(R-Hunterdon), who proposed the tax convention in 2000, said
if Codey and the Legislature did not act by August, the idea
would be taken to the governor who takes office in
January.
"The concept is not dead," Schluter said.
"For the present session, it looks like there is going to be
no action. I do not expect miracles to happen -- like Codey
to call a special session and debate this issue -- but the
idea is going to continue. This is the number one issue on
everybody's mind."
Jon Corzine, the Democratic gubernatorial
nominee, has expressed support for a convention, but, if
elected, intends to call for a special legislative session
on property taxes soon after taking office, said Ivette
Mendez, his spokeswoman.
Doug Forrester, the Republican nominee,
intends to provide property tax relief by cutting state
spending and increasing tax rebates, said Sherry Sylvester,
his spokeswoman.
The convention bill wasn't the only major
piece of legislation to fall by the wayside as frenetic
budget talks raged through June.
Also tabled was legislation Codey had
pushed to provide $150 million for the construction of a
state Stem Cell Institute in New Brunswick, $75 million for
the repair of state parks and state-run historic sites, and
$60 million for the expansion of biomedical
facilities.
Tom Hester covers state government. He may be reached at
(609) 292-0557 or thester@starledger.com.
© 2005 The Star-Ledger. Used by NJ.com with
permission.
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