Democrats Hammer Rise in Net Property Taxes Under Christie

Assembly Democrats last week assailed Gov. Chris Christie for an 18.6 percent increase in net property taxes over the past three years, but Christie’s community affairs commissioner said long-term savings and cuts in overall tax rates are more important.

Community Affairs commissioner Richard E. Constable III told the Assembly Budget Committee that the 2.4 percent growth in property taxes in 2011 and 1.6 percent rise last year were the smallest statewide hikes in 20 years and an improvement over an "increase of 70 percent in the 10 years before Governor Christie took office."

But Democratic committee members disputed Constable’s view, citing a New Jersey Spotlight analysis showing that net property taxes -- the net cost of property taxes to the average homeowner earning about $70,000 after rebates are factored in -- jumped three times as much in Christie’s first three years than in Democrat Jon Corzine’s final three years in office.

“Net property taxes in New Jersey increased 18.6 percent in Gov. Chris Christie’s first three years in office, compared to just 6 percent in the three years before he became governor,” said Assemblyman Gordon Johnson (D-Bergen). “The average residential property tax bill is higher than it has ever been.”

Read more at NJSpotlight.com

NJ Spotlight is an issue-driven news website that provides critical insight to New Jersey’s communities and businesses. It is non-partisan, independent, policy-centered and community-minded.