A lobbying group representing New Jersey mayors says Gov. Chris Christie's budget cuts will hurt local efforts to stabilize property taxes.
The League of Municipalities says cuts totaling $240 million will adversely impact the ability of municipalities to provide much-needed property tax relief in their towns.
New Jersey's property taxes are the highest in the country, averaging $7,576 per household last year. So Bill Dressel, the league's executive director, has urged the Legislature to try to reverse some cuts.
Christie slashed all but $10 million from a $149 million aid program for cities and towns facing extraordinary circumstances. He also eliminated a $50 million public safety program for municipalities experiencing crime spikes that Democrats had put into their alternate budget.
"Once again, it seems that municipalities are being asked to sacrifice more than their fair share, " said Dressel, in a letter addressed to the state's mayors last Friday.
In all, Christie cut $900 million from the Democrats' plan.
Senate President Stephen Sweeney told the Star-Ledger that he’s planning to schedule legislative override votes on Christie’s line-item budget vetoes.
