Updated February 27, 2017
Posted February 27, 2017
Property taxes in New Jersey are the highest in the nation. Since 2000, they have doubled and have risen at over twice the rate of inflation. No wonder people are forced to move; no wonder we have the highest foreclosure rate in the nation.
Property taxpayers suffer because raising this tax is the path of least resistance. When the income tax goes up, people blame politicians in the Statehouse. For property taxes, it’s not clear who’s to blame: the state blames local governments. The towns who collect the taxes for school districts and counties blame those entities for not controlling costs. The towns, school districts and counties all blame the state for cutting state aid.
Everyone is to blame. No one is responsible.
The obvious way to control property taxes is to hold the line on expenses, but this is fraught with political consequences, especially for Democrats. Public-sector unions like the NJEA and the two police unions, whose members’ salaries and benefits are largely paid by property taxes, wield enormous influence in both general elections and, particularly, Democratic primaries.
Some Republicans who opposed the deal to replenish the Transportation Trust Fund have a rallying cry after losing that fight: The new money should only be spent on roads.
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, kicking off her campaign for governor on Tuesday, implied as much in her speech. She criticized the new $16 billion deal, which includes $12 billion in borrowing over eight years and a 23-cent per gallon increase in the gas tax, saying the state “cannot afford to borrow billions of dollars to build a new rail line when our roads and our bridges are crumbling.”
It was one of the biggest selling points for the state’s new infrastructure plan, often cited as a reason to support the state’s first gas-tax increase in decades: The new legislation more than doubles the amount of transportation aid provided to counties and municipalities, helping to finance badly-needed road projects across the state.
A day before Gov. Chris Christie signed the legislation in October, local and county officials stood with lawmakers in Trenton to give the Republican governor a final nudge across the finish line — and to celebrate.
Michael L. Diamond , @mdiamondapp5:51 p.m. EST November 18, 2016
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SPRING LAKE HEIGHTS – President-elect Donald J. Trump’s mix of tax cuts and transportation spending could give New Jersey’s economy a boost. And his move to crackdown on immigration and free trade agreements could slow it down.
The result: The state’s economy is expected to grow slightly faster next year, but still fall short of the U.S., an economist for TD Bank said Friday.
““The possible scenarios are very wide for next year,” said Derek Burleton, TD Bank’s deputy chief economist. “I think we have to be honest with each other.”
Ridgewood NJ, So do some of the nation’s buildings – both old and new – that were designed to avoid collapsing during an earthquake or other major catastrophe, but aren’t quite up to the task of remaining inhabitable after disaster strikes.
“Earthquakes are possible just about any place, not just in California,” says Douglas P. Taylor, president of Taylor Devices (www.taylordevices.com), which manufactures seismic dampers that protect structures during such events as earthquakes and high winds.
“New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and many other places that you don’t usually think about can have seismic activity as Oklahoma recently did. If buildings, bridges and other structures aren’t designed to withstand the shock, they can endanger the lives of drivers and the building’s occupants.”
Taylor says these structural problems are more widespread than most people realize. Some of the issues include:
• Bridge aging and deterioration. Across the United States, 58,500 bridges are structurally deficient, according to a report by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association. That represents about 9.5 percent of the nation’s bridges. “That’s definitely a concern for the people who use those bridges every day,” Taylor says. From a technological standpoint they can be fixed, but Taylor says he worries the money to do so isn’t coming any time soon, at least in part because the nation’s debt makes it difficult for the government to make the appropriate investment in the nation’s infrastructure. • Older buildings without proper earthquake-resistant engineering. Some older buildings aren’t designed to withstand a seismic event. For example, many of the old brownstone apartment buildings in New York have “virtually nothing holding them together if the building whips back and forth,” Taylor says. Anything made of brick or concrete also can be problematic. • The limits of building codes. Current building codes require that a new building be constructed so it won’t collapse during a major earthquake. But even when they remain standing, buildings can sustain enough damage to cause them to be condemned and therefore unusable. “People think that if they move into a brand new building that meets all the modern building codes, that their building will perform well during earthquakes and they will be able to inhabit them immediately after a seismic event,” Taylor says. “They also think the contents of the building, including personal items, will be intact. This is simply not true.” In this case, he says, a lack of awareness may be a major factor in keeping the necessary fixes from happening.
“I think you can look at the nation’s vulnerability in this area as a bad news and good news situation,” Taylor says. “Clearly, the bad news is the potential hazard for people and property. The good news is that we’re not facing something that’s unsolvable. We as a nation just need to recognize that these problems exist and have a determination to address them.”
About Douglas P. Taylor
Douglas P. Taylor is president of Taylor Devices (www.taylordevices.com), which manufactures seismic dampers that protect structures during such events as earthquakes and high winds. He is inventor or co-inventor of 34 patents in the fields of energy management, hydraulics and shock isolation. In 2015, he was inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame by NASA and the Space Foundation.
By Samantha Marcus | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on October 04, 2016 at 5:16 PM, updated October 04, 2016 at 7:52 PM
TRENTON — With the state Legislature poised to approve a 23-cent-a-gallon increase in the gas tax Wednesday — along with a decrease in the sales tax and the elimination of the estate tax — budget analysts and consumer advocates complained bitterly on Tuesday that the average New Jerseyan would pay a lot more at the pump while getting little in the way of tax breaks.
Various efforts by the governor and legislative leaders to replenish the Transportation Trust Fund have repeatedly brought these groups together to warn that the tax cuts will benefit a relatively few wealthy residents while undermining such Democratic priorities as environmental oversight, funds for education and aid for the state’s poorer residents.
The latest tax plan, the result of negotiations between Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, and Democratic leaders in the Senate and Assembly, eliminates the estate tax, raises the Earned Income Tax Credit for the working poor, eliminates taxes on much pension and retirement income, slightly reduces the sales tax and creates a tax break for veterans.
The 23-cent-per-gallon increase on gasoline sold in the state will finance an eight-year, $16 billion transportation program that will draw another $16 billion in federal matching dollars.
Ridgewood NJ, Senator Mike Doherty (R-23) said that he opposes the newest plan to raise the state’s gas tax by $2 billion, and again called for the passage of legislation he sponsors which requires an analysis of New Jersey’s highest-in-the-nation road construction costs.
Sen. Jennifer Beck and Sen. Mike Doherty held a press conference to oppose a gas tax increase proposal at the New Jersey State House on June 15, 2016. (SenateNJ.com)
Under the tax increase proposal that is set to be voted upon by both houses of the New Jersey Legislature on Wednesday, the state’s current gas tax of 14.5 cents per gallon would increase by 158 percent to 37.5 cents per gallon.
“I opposed the 23 cent/gallon gas tax increase in June, and I continue to oppose it today,” said Doherty. “Until we get a handle on why New Jersey spends significantly more per mile than every other state, any new gas tax revenues we raise would be wasted. I don’t think that’s fair to drivers.”
Doherty has long called for a study to examine excessive state transportation costs as the starting point of any transportation funding discussion. He is the sponsor of S-1888, which would create the “State Transportation Cost Analysis Task Force.”
“The thousands of people who signed our ‘no gas tax’ petition are telling us that an increase would only add to the state’s already oppressive taxes,” added Doherty. “I guess some people aren’t satisfied with New Jersey having the third greatest tax burden in the nation. They won’t be happy until we’re number one.”
The only common sense was reduction in the estate tax. It should be immediately eliminated if the full gas hike is immediate. Everyone I know has already changed their domicile to Florida and “self-exiled” for 182 days per year in order to preserve their money.
Forcing those with expendable income to go elsewhere for 6 months a year hurts nj economy but you can’t explain that to some moron democrat .
The gas tax massive increase will get pissed away by the democrats who control the state legislature.
The proper way to get more bang for the buck is to allow non Union construction companies to perform the work. I see the same 3 contractors doing the majority of the work.
That explains why it costs nj 2 million per mile, the most in the USA
Ridgewood NJ, On Saturday morning the Railroad underpass on West Glen Ave will be closed from 7am until 4pm to all vehicular traffic due to utility work. A detour will be in place at Oak Street and North Monroe Street. Police officers will be stationed at intersections around the detour to assist with keeping traffic flowing.
Despite increased revenue and a better bond rating, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority has key financial risk, one ratings agency says.
According a Sept. 14 report by Moody’s Investors Service, political interference and toll-wary drivers could put the Authority — which oversees the Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike — in a financially precarious situation in the coming years.
The report comes after a year of growth for the Authority, which saw nearly $1.5 billion in revenue between July 2014 and June 2015. During that same period, Moody’s increased its bond rating to “A2,” its highest since the early 2000s.
Ridgewood NJ, according to Rurik Halaby, the following is an email sent to Tony Damiano, owner of Mango Jam and President of The Ridgewood Guild in response to a letter written by Tony to the Mayor re the PSE&G project:
Dear Tony,
I can’t express how disappointed I am with your email. First, PSEG work schedules are not controlled by Village Council and I, along with council colleagues, have taken the concerns of the business community very seriously. Personally, I began working on this tirelessly since 7:00am Thursday morning and have not stopped. The (former)Village Manager was involved in, and is responsible for, any decisions made in May or June and up until the date of her resignation. l was not included or apprised of those discussions or decisions. It’s unfortunate any time working on resolving this has been interrupted by this antagonistic and angry email.
Your assertion that I am “micro-managing” anything is shameful and regrettable. Five council members selected the members of the CBDAC. Furthermore, your suggestion that you could have been a “great asset” to the Central Business District Advisory Committee is undermined by the tone and content of your email. I have great confidence in Councilman Hache and this wonderful group of CBDAC committee members.
Council members Hache, Voigt and Walsh along with Deputy Mayor Sedon, myself and Village Staff have worked diligently to support for our business community. Your email is gratuitous and offensive.
I will continue my efforts to resolve the PSEG matter and am in the process of scheduling a meeting with them. I hope we can move on from this and will keep you informed of any progress.
-Susan
Mayor Susan Knudsen
Councilwoman
Rurik Halaby added on Facebook , “I could not believe the insulting, sarcastic, and disdainful tone and nature of this letter. Tony deserves better. He is a passionate man who is totally dedicated to making Ridgewood a better place for all of us, particularly the CBD.
Ms. Knudsen swore to uphold the U.S. Constitution. The first amendment guarantees Tony’s right to express himself. As importantly, it guarantees his right “to petition the Government for redress of grievances.”
If Mayor Aronshohn had written such a letter the Vocalantis would have hung him in effigy.
Ms. Knudsen, you owe Tony an apology!”
Yes Rurik we all know how much Paul Aronsohn loved PSE&G.
Ridgewood NJ, On Saturday morning September 17th the underpass on West Glen Ave will be closed to all traffic from 8am until 4pm for utility work. Detours will be in place at Oak Street and North Monroe Street. Police officers will be stationed at intersections around the detour to assist with keeping the traffic flowing.
Ridgewood NJ, PSE&G will be starting underground construction on the PSE&G and public rights of way in your area. This construction is part of our upgrade initiative to ensure reliable electric service in the Village of Ridgewood, as well as surrounding communities.
Underground construction activities began on or about Monday September 19th, 2016 from approximately 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday. Construction activities include the installation of manholes and underground pipe. This work is expected to be complete in November 2016, weather permitting.
Our work locations are expected in the following locations:
– South Broad Street between Passaic Street and East Ridgewood Avenue – North Broad Street between East Ridgewood Avenue and Franklin Avenue – Franklin Avenue between North Broad Street and Chestnut Street – Franklin Avenue and Walnut Street Intersection
Safety is our primary concern. PSE&G will work with the Village of Ridgewood Police Department to minimize any traffic concerns or inconvenience to the public. At this time, we expect to have alternating traffic and/or detours near the locations listed above. During construction, please refrain from going near our construction work zones.
We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this work may cause. If you have any questions or concerns, please call our toll free number at 1-888-314-3332.
Ridgewood NJ, On Saturday morning the underpass on East Glen Ave will be closed from 7am until 3pm for utility work. Detours will be in place at Oak Street and North Monroe Street. Police officers will be stationed at intersections around the detour to assist with keeping traffic flowing.
Dear Nattering nabobs of negativism,
I just wanted to provide you with an end-of-August update on the large PSE&G Energy Strong Gas Glen Avenue modernization project that has been periodically causing traffic delays in the Village throughout the summer. The good news is that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the major infrastructure work will be done by this Friday. The other good news is that the planned work has been completed on East Glen so there should be no detour issues impacting Travell School.
Over the next two days, the intersection of Monroe and Glen will be closed while work is being done; this will cause a significant detour and associated traffic problems. Please try to avoid this route as much as possible.
In the next several weeks, through late September, individual service line hook-ups will be scheduled with homeowners along West Glen. These hook-ups could result in intermittent lane closures.
Thanks for your patience during this period – we have been fortunate that, in working closely with PSE&G, they were able to complete the most impactful part of this project within the summer months. We are also fortunate that this major PSE&G project of modernization to our gas lines enhances the safety, cleanliness and reliability of the services that we rely on.
