New Jersey does have one of the lowest gasoline taxes in the United States. We also have the highest property taxes of all 50 states. New Jersey is No. 1, 2 or 3 on every list of the worst taxed states in the nation.
We are No. 1 among all the states in the number of people leaving their state. The wealthy are leaving in record numbers, and it will probably get worse as the baby boomers retire.
We are losing billions in tax revenue every year. I do not understand why John Jennings in his recent letter to the editor thinks that raising more taxes will improve our state.
What we need to do is work smarter and more efficiently, doing the right thing instead of the politically expedient. We can start by using the $400,000 surplus of the Turnpike Authority for fixing roads and bridges instead of burying it in the General Fund.
Next, we should combine all the transportation authorities into one organization, eliminating duplication.
Finally, we should eliminate the “prevailing wage” requirement in state contracts. When a company is qualified to do the work and pays its employees a fair wage, why should the taxpayers have to pay them a premium to have them work for the state?
Stephen Chodos
Marlboro