Property taxes. Property taxes. Property taxes. I heard those words quite often during the fall political campaign, and they still resonate among the residents of East Brunswick today. Three months into my term of office, I understand the impact of those words even more than when property taxes just affected my own personal finances.
New Jersey’s archaic means of relying on property taxes to fund our schools has hampered not only our Board of Education but also our municipal government, as it must hold back in providing additional services to our residents because of the overall tax burden already imposed. The effects of this antiquated tax structure seem to negatively grow by leaps and bounds each year. Many of our residents are struggling during this difficult economic time just to meet their family’s financial burdens. Tax relief should not be an illusion; it is more than overdue.
The problems stemming from the over-reliance on property taxes must be corrected, and the state Legislature must act now — no more delays. Years of debate concerning whether to hold a constitutional convention have proven to be nothing more than a smokescreen behind which the great majority of our elected officials in Trenton seem more than willing to hide.
Instead of running away from this politically difficult issue, our elected officials should embrace it. After all, aren’t people elected to public office in the first place to solve the problems confronting our society? It seems quite clear that too many of our senators and assemblymen seem too concerned about their re-election rather than trying to solve this most important issue before them today.
I ran for public office to make a difference. Perhaps because I am a newcomer, some could accuse me of being too idealistic, too naive to really understand the system. They might say that I need to give it more time. Hogwash. I believe that more than enough time has already been wasted. I have always believed that action on the important issues is what is demanded of me, and I, for one, have never shied away from the real issues at hand.
Our elected officials in Trenton must focus on the property tax issue now; enough with the frivolous sponsorship of meaningless bills and the mindless debate over irrelevant issues. Let the debate on the issue of property tax reform begin in earnest today. I urge all residents of New Jersey to demand that the legislators act now. Accept nothing less — I know I won’t.
David Stahl
Vice President
East Brunswick Township Council