Why N.J. towns are unlikely to see good news on aid for property taxes

ABOARD THE CHAMBER TRAIN -- State Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick (R-Union) said Thursday he'd like to restore aid to New Jersey's municipalities to lower property taxes, but the state simply can't afford it.

Lawmakers have introduced a bill (A302) to restore hundreds of millions of dollars in energy tax receipts and Consolidated Municipal Property Tax Relief Aid to local governments for property tax relief. Local governments would have to use the funds to reduce local levies.

The money paid by utility companies was originally intended for towns. But New Jersey governors, starting with Jon Corzine, diverted the money to the state treasury to balance the budget.

Under the bill, the state would restore the $331 million over five years, ending in 2021, when the municipalities would be returned to the amount they'd received in 2008.

Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a similar bill in 2012.

Lawmakers in both the Assembly and Senate have declared property tax relief a priority in this legislative session. Data released Friday showed the average statewide property tax bill rose from $8,161 in 2014 to $8,353 in 2015.

Bramnick, a likely Republican candidate for governor in 2017 who has urged the Legislature to move bills to get property taxes under control, said the bill is "a good idea, but where's the money?"

"I'd like to give everyone in the state of New Jersey everything," Bramnick said aboard the train during the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce's 79th Walk to Washington trip. "Just tell me where you get the money."

The bill represents a real chance to lower property taxes, Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-Morris), a sponsor, said in a phone interview, adding the pricetag is a tiny sliver of the state's proposed budget.

"If you can't cut two-tenths of 1 percent of the budget to provide property tax relief, then you're never going to provide property tax relief," he said.

Jon Moran, a legislative analyst with the League of Municipalities, has said the league wants the additional funds but doesn't think the Legislature should tell local lawmakers how to spend the money.

Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @samanthamarcus. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

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