Earlier this week, the New Jersey State League of Municipalities (NJLM), the New Jersey Conference of Mayors (NJCM), and the New Jersey Urban Mayor’s Association (NJUMA) issued a letter signed by 401 mayors from across the state urging the State Legislature to fully fund the Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Act in the FY24 state budget. We appreciated the $75 million that was included in the FY23 budget, however, the full funding of the ETR program should be over $330 million.
New Jersey mayors are speaking in a united voice calling upon the Governor and Legislature to fully fund the Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Act. The continued diversion of dedicated energy tax receipts to the state has jeopardized critical property tax relief funding. Municipalities have made the difficult choices when funding was reduced and have been forced to reduce staff, cut, or reduce services, and find other ways to keep balanced budgets. This much-needed funding can be used to support the municipal budget and provide funding for critical needs in our municipalities.
It is well past time for the diversion by state officials of this municipal funding intended for local property tax relief to end. Municipal governments currently are facing stark financial challenges and difficulties, including the dramatic hike in healthcare premium costs for our employees, huge pension increases, skyrocketing costs for solid waste and recycling collection and disposal, increased insurance costs, new mandated state environmental costs, and much more — all driving costs that will ultimately be borne by property taxpayers without relief.
Please take action. If you have not done so already, please consider joining the now 414 mayors in signing the letter and reach out to your State Senate and Assembly representatives urging funding in the FY 2024 budget to fully restore Energy Tax Receipts.
Contacts:
Mike Cerra, Executive Director, mcerra@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x120.
Lori Buckelew, Deputy Executive Director & Director of Government Affairs, lbuckelew@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x112.