Freaking Out Over Property Tax Relief

Today Democrats will unveil Trenton’s grand new scheme for property tax relief. Various elements of the plans have been leaking to the press for some time, so it’s doubtful we’re in for any new shockers. There’ll be no major property tax reform or relief – just additional state spending to the tune of $1 billion and a repackaged property tax rebate to be called a credit. If you’re not receiving much in the way of property tax relief now, you won’t under the new system either.

The Star-Ledger’s Tom Moran writes,” Democrats and government workers are normally the coziest of friends” and explains that’s “because the vast majority of the money we raise through the property tax goes directly into the salaries and benefits of government workers.”

But the math is inescapable. We have among the best-paid teachers and cops in the country. And we provide all government workers with cushy benefits that are be yond the dreams of most taxpayers.

So we get phony spending caps, smoke and mirrors to advance the Democrats’ latest vote buying scheme. Senate President, Dick Codey says New Jersey’s public employee unions are going to “freak out, big-time" over the “property tax relief” proposals. So where’s that $1 billion in additional state spending going to wind up? Oh yea, from your pocket, to the state’s treasury and then “directly into the salaries and benefits of government workers”.

How bad is this latest scam for taxpayers? Consider this from today’s Star-Ledger, “Assembly Democratic aides briefed lobbyists on the latest recommendations throughout the day yesterday. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers still had not been given draft copies of the reports being presented by panels they served on.”

Update: Here’s the plan, or should we say here are nearly 100 ideas Democrats have to rearrange the deck chairs.