Governor to eliminate property tax rebates this year
Monday, March 15th, 2010
By: Phil Gregory
philgregorynews@gmail.com
New Jersey officials who have been briefed on Gov. Christie's budget plan say it would eliminates all property tax rebates this year.
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The Governor is proposing that any rebate checks be deferred until April of next year. Assembly budget committee Chairman Lou Greenwald says not getting a check this year puts a burden on the most vulnerable residents.
Greenwald: That will be a dramatic property tax increase for young families, middle class families and seniors.
The ranking Republican on the budget committee, Assemblyman Joe Malone, says he doesn't like skipping the rebates this year, but says it's part of the shared sacrifice to deal with a multi-billion dollar state deficit.
Malone: There is no other choice. We are left with a lot of bad options and we'll have to proceed as best we can trying to through this and make the best of it.
Lawmakers say the planned elimination of this year's rebates will be a big focus in the budget debate in the legislature.