New Jersey taxpayers bear the heaviest state and local tax burden in the country for the third year in a row, according to a report released Wednesday by a fiscal policy organization in Washington D.C.

The Tax Foundation found the state's residents paid 11.8 percent of their income in state and local taxes. The national average is 9.7 percent.

Taxpayers in New York and Connecticut aren't far behind. Residents in those states pay 11.7 percent and 11.1 percent of their income to state and local taxes respectively.

They are the only three states where taxpayers give up more than 11 percent of their income in state-local taxes, according to the report.

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Most New Jersey home owners may inch closer Thursday to getting a 20 percent property tax cut, but that inching may not come easy.

The Senate is slated to meet to consider two property tax reform measures, including creating a fiscal watchdog demanded by Gov. Jon S. Corzine if he's to approve the tax cut meant to help 95 percent of state homeowners pay the nation's highest property taxes.

The Senate tried Monday to approve the post, but with Republicans and Democratic Sen. Barbara Buono opposing the bill, and with Democratic Sen. Nicholas Scutari absent, Senate President Richard J. Codey couldn't get the 21 votes needed to pass it.

TRENTON — State lawmakers moved Monday to cut taxes on nonprofit health clubs, parking in municipal or county facilities, plastic surgery and initiation fees for public and private clubs, such as swimming pools, gymnasiums and golf courses.

The changes — which would reverse recent increases — would save taxpayers an estimated $70 million, according to the state Department of the Treasury. But they also eat into the revenue Gov. Corzine has said is needed to help put state finances in order.

Removing the sales tax on nonprofit gyms, such as YMCAs or community fitness centers, will undo what some lawmakers said was an unintended consequence of broadening the state's 7 percent sales tax earlier this year.

Gov. Jon Corzine's abrupt refusal to support legislation trimming public employee benefits makes it less likely the Legislature can muster the votes to adopt other controversial measures aimed at reining in property taxes, top lawmakers said yesterday.

"It certainly makes the climate a lot harder," Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex) said during a joint appearance with Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) before The Star-Ledger editorial board yesterday. "Some attitudes and opinions have changed."

TRENTON - Gov. Corzine says he hopes to hold property-tax increases to no more than 3 percent annually and give local governments authority to implement their own taxes.

Speaking on WKXW-FM (101.5) yesterday, Corzine said that he would like to cut the state's highest-in-the-nation property taxes as part of a tax-reform effort, but that keeping annual increases in check seemed more realistic.

New Jersey's reputation as a tax hell just got worse.

The $1.9 billion worth of tax increases in the state's new budget represents a 5 percent increase over last year, far outpacing any other state, according to a study by the National Conference of State Legislators.

New Jersey now has the highest state sales tax, tied with three other states, at 7 percent. Its cigarette tax now leads in the nation. And, of course, this all comes on top of the nation's highest average property taxes.

Americans for Prosperity New Jersey is hosting an Anti-Tax Rally on June 24th at 2 pm. Come early, bring your family, enjoy a nice summer day, and let your political voice be heard.

No more tax increases!

Where:
Franklin Ave Stage in Seaside Heights
Boardwalk and Franklin Ave
Seaside Heights, NJ

When:
June 24th
2 PM

Watch the June 8 NJN story that featured Steve Lonegan and Americans for Prosperity. This is a great report.

Two-thirds of New Jersey voters want Gov. Corzine to find more budget cuts rather than raise taxes to deal with a $4.5 billion budget deficit, a Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey Newspapers Poll shows.

Imagine a colonial New Jersey town 300 years ago. It has one church; the townspeople are predominantly of one faith. The town is miles from its nearest neighbor, so everyone lives, works and goes to school there. There is a town doctor, but no hospital. The town has businesses that trade on the river and serve surrounding farmers from time to time, but for the most part the residents consume what services the town provides. And these services are relatively few, so government expenses are low and paid for entirely by a tax the town levies on residents' homes and land-a property tax, as it were.

03-18-2006
As property taxes continue to skyrocket forcing senior citizens to sell their homes, barring young families from purchasing homes and squeezing the middle class who currently own homes, one thing is clear: unless we tackle New Jersey’s property tax problems, many people who currently live in, or would like to live in New Jersey will be unable to afford to do so. To reform the property tax system, our elected leaders must have the courage to examine the proclivity towards “home rule” and to require the wealthier Abbott Districts to begin to pay their fair share of property taxes. Until then, any talk of property tax reform is just that -- talk.