Bill That Undermines Tax Sharing Passes Committee

June 17th, 2011 by Chris Sturm

After a marathon session on pension and health benefits reform yesterday, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee quickly voted 8-5 to pass S2908, a bill that would transfer the responsibility for funding the Meadowlands tax sharing program to the general fund.  Bill sponsor and Budget Committee Chair Sarlo elected not to hear testimony.

New Jersey Future opposed the bill, citing concerns in its written testimony about fairness—both to taxpayers statewide, who would in effect have to subsidize the region, and to the receiving towns, who would have to depend upon annual appropriations to receive their aid.  The American Planning Association/NJ Chapter also submitted testimony in opposition.

S2908 moves on to the full Senate.  The Assembly companion, A4115, has been assigned to the Assembly Housing and Local Government committee, but has not been scheduled.  Hopefully these bills will be considered on the merits and not as a pawn in the budget deliberations.

Posted in Development and Redevelopment, Economic Development, Housing and Equity, Local Planning, Planning and Governance, Regional Planning, Tax Policies

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