East Windsor to host property tax forum

Assemblymen Michael J. Panter and Robert L. Morgan, and state Sen. Ellen Karcher will discuss property tax reform with residents.

By: Marisa Maldonado
   EAST WINDSOR — Residents recently expressed their anger over high property taxes at the polls by voting down the $66.6 million school budget by a 61 to 39 percent margin.
   On June 9 they will have the chance to air their tax concerns in a different outlet — a forum hosted by the township and featuring three state lawmakers who represent East Windsor residents in the Legislature.
   Assemblymen Michael J. Panter and Robert L. Morgan, as well as state Sen. Ellen Karcher, all Democrats who represent the 12th Legislative District, will discuss property tax reform with residents.
   "If we don’t maintain pressure on our officials in government to address these issues, they will tend to move away from it," Assemblyman Morgan said Wednesday. "It’s great ammunition for us to be able to go to the leadership in Trenton and say we had hundreds of constituents out at a Thursday meeting."
   The forum will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the East Windsor Township Senior Center, 40 Lanning Blvd.
   Assemblymen Morgan and Panter and Sen. Karcher have worked on legislation to reform property taxes since taking office in 2004. Regionalizing services such as planning boards could save money for municipalities, Assemblyman Morgan said.
   "We understand fully we have so many layers of external government service in New Jersey," Assemblyman Morgan said. "Regionalizing services that can be rationally shared makes incredible sense."
   He commended East Windsor for sharing many of its services with neighboring municipalities.
   Mayor Janice Mironov, who invited the representatives to speak, said she hoped the three would address issues such as the controversial call for a constitutional convention on property tax reform.
   The Assembly passed a bill last week approving the measure. If approved by the Senate and signed by the governor, a question would appear on the ballot in November’s election, asking residents if they want a constitutional convention.
   If the question passes, residents would vote on delegates to send to the convention. These delegates would formulate proposals on tax reform. Voters then would vote on these reforms.
   Assemblymen Morgan and Panter both support the constitutional convention as a solid method to address property taxes. Assemblyman Panter said its only downside is that it should address school spending as well as tax reform.
   New Jersey spends more on each student than any other state, but only ranks 38th when it comes to spending on teachers’ salaries and school equipment, Assemblyman Panter said. Districts could shave 15 to 20 percent off the tax rate if they consolidated administrative positions, Assemblyman Panter said.
   "It’s very similar to what companies do," Assemblyman Panter said Wednesday. "There’s no company in the country which would operate in the state of New Jersey and have 600 (offices)."
   Assemblymen Panter and Morgan have been involved in a number of town hall meetings throughout their district, including a forum at the Twin Rivers Library last December. About a dozen residents attended.
   "(The forum) is really meant to be interactive," Assemblyman Panter said, "not just a lecture between me, (Assemblyman Morgan) and (Mayor Mironov)."
   Assemblyman Panter said East Windsor — including its leadership under Mayor Mironov — is a good example of a township that uses its resources efficiently.
   "There’s not much more that local officials can do who are running their town so efficiently," Assemblyman Panter said. "It’s really up to the Legislature."