In the political laboratory of the year that is the 14th Legislative District, state Sen. Tom Goodwin (R-Hamilton) today proclaimed his support for Gov. Chris Christie’s proposal for a constitutional amendment to cap local property taxes at 2.5%.
“It is time for Trenton to get serious about real property tax reform,” said Goodwin, who is trying to fend off Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro) in a November special election. “Cap 2.5 puts property tax decisions in the hands of the taxpayers, where it belongs. This constitutional amendment gives taxpayers the permanent reform they demand; and it gives them the direct input they deserve.”
Anticipating Democrats push back to lower Christie’s cap, Goodwin admitted he backs 2.5% “or less.”
Christie’s legislation has until Monday to be approved by both houses, but Democrats are already primed to bury the Christie cap and set up a summer confrontation over their own statutory version, which would not requre voter approval.
“If ‘Cap 2.5’ was passed a decade ago, the average taxpayer in Legislative District 14 would save almost $2,000 per year in property taxes,” Goodwin said. “Instead, property taxes for the average homeowner have skyrocketed over $3,000. ‘Cap 2.5’ amounts to real property tax savings for our residents.”
