By: Dr. Michael Munley
To the editor:
I just wanted to respond to Ron Kavchok’s letter last week about how his property taxes have risen sequentially over the past four years and his anger about what to do about it.
There is now something that Ron and everyone else in his situation can do about this. Last week I joined an organization called The New Jersey Tea Party.
The organization is headquartered in Atco. The organization is launching a statewide campaign to change the property tax laws. In summary, the organization wants to eliminate school taxes from everyone’s property tax bill. This would reduce everyones property tax bill to about $500 a year. The schools would then be funded by an alternative method.
It’s been calculated that a mere 1 percent increase in the state sales tax would easily generate enough revenue to fund all 600 school districts. This is because the tax hits everyone who spends money and not just the limited number of homeowners.
It can be done because it has already been done in the state of Michigan with great success. Michigan hasn’t had significant property taxes in over seven years and their school system runs better than ever.
There is a petition circulating that will be submitted to the state legislature in a couple of months. For those with Internet access an electronic petition can be signed by going to www.njteaparty.com, or by writing to: New Jersey Teaparty Petition 2001, C/O Chuck Rudolph, 2212 Atco Ave., Atco, N.J. 08004. Or by calling 1-877-278-5196.
In addition, the organization is looking for people to write their legislature as well as spread the information. Assemblyman Kip Bateman of Somerset County has already expressed an interest in the organization. This is a start. A copy of the "Michigan Proposal A," the document that details Michigans elimination of school taxes, can be obtained at the Web site directly or a copy can be sent by written request. I’ve been in constant contact with the organization and I’ve been told that great progress has already happening.
The Coalition For Tax Relief as well as the radio station 101.5 FM have already expressed an interest and will be joining the fight. OK everyone, let’s do this and get sanity back into our home life again.
Hillsborough