Assembly Budget Committee Unanimously Passes StayNJ Bill
The Assembly Budget Committee this afternoon unanimously passed A-1, the StayNJ bill offered by Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-19).
The bill establishes Stay NJ senior property tax credit affordability program; expands income limit and modifies ownership requirement for eligibility to receive homestead property tax reimbursement; appropriates not more than $300 million.
To a person, the Republican members of the Assembly Budget Committee backed the bill.
Assemblyman Brian Rumpf: Yes.
They just fretted a little about waiting three years for the implementation of the program.
“I’d like to applaud the speaker for thinking like a Republican,” said Rumpf. “My only concern is the delay in the bill relays some suspicions.”
A bait and switch perhaps?
The committee chair, Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin (D-29), insisted not.
“Treasury needs to figure out how to make it into one application,” she said.
That’s the only reason for the time delay.
Like Rumpf, the rest of the Republicans on the committee forged ahead in support.
Assemblywoman Nora Dunn: Yes.
Assemblyman Gary Scharfenberger: Yes.
Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz: Yes.
Assemblyman Hal Wirths: “I’ll be finishing up my sixth year. Today, I feel like my friends on the other side of the aisle may have gotten the message: taxes are too high.”
Wirths also worried about the timeline.
“But obviously I’m going to be a yes,” he explained.
The Democrats on the committee also all voted yes.
“The reason we can do this is because of the fiscal prudence of this administration,” said Assemblyman John McKeon (D-27).
Said Assemblywoman Pintor Marin (D-29):
“I do applaud [Coughlin’s] efforts. …He’s very thoughtful and thorough. This meant a lot to him. You talk to people and hear their concerns.”
The STAY NJ program would provide to an eligible claimant a property tax credit in the amount of 50 percent of the property tax due and owing for the eligible claimant’s principal residence, up to a maximum of $10,000 per year. The bill defines “eligible claimant” as a person who is 65 or more years of age and the owner of a homestead in this State that is the person’s primary residence. There is no income limit for eligibility to receive a property tax credit under the program.
Under the bill, a property taxpayer who may be eligible to apply for an ANCHOR property tax rebate and a homestead property tax reimbursement shall only be entitled to the greater of the STAY NJ credit, or the combined amount of the ANCHOR property tax rebate and the homestead property tax reimbursement.
Bad enough this is not fully effective for two, three years, but do we really need another government program? Do we need more bureaucracy? Do we need another program full of waste and fraud?
Perhaps an across the board major tax cut for all. Perhaps We eliminated the state income tax.
Don’t use this program if you need no help! Is only for the needy!
Don’t believe anything the Democrat Legislature says about the STAYNJ bill. The entire exercise is an Election year scam being used by Democrats to keep their seats in both houses. Don’t believe anything they say!!!. VOTE ALL OF THE DEMOCRATS OUT IN NOVEMBER 2023!!!!!!!.
The Democrats are touting this bill as a panacea for senior property tax relief. The article says that the tax relief is up to $10,000 per year. This is a lie. Gov. KNUCKLEHEAD Murphy and the Democrats cut the $10,000 to $6500. First they said it would be done soon. Now, the Democrats are saying the law won’t go into effect until 2026–A year after Gov. KNUCKLEHEAD is gone, and well after the 2023 election.
Then they are saying, they have to see if the budget can fit it in 2026 because the projected budgets don’t look favorable. The Democrats are already making up excuses for not passing this bill. If the money gets tight, or doesn’t look available, the Democrats need to fund the $1.3 BILLION/YR. for this bill (it was $2 BILLION/YR. @ $10,000 tax relief), by cutting the $4 BILLION/YR. in the budget they are using to pay for illegal aliens in our “sanctuary state” by giving them free healthcare, free education, free housing, free food stamps, free welfare, free legal services, etc.
The only way to maintain this bill is to make it a Constitutional Referendum where ALL the voters vote on it. I am sure it will pass by a huge margin. Once it becomes part of Constitution (and have clauses in it to increase with inflation or costs of living), it can never be repealed without a vote by ALL of the voters.
If this is to keep Seniors in NJ, it should go into effect in 2024 not 2026.
I agree. I’ll probably be dead by then.
What about residents that are permanently disabled that are collecting social security disability benefits ? They will be excluded but have the same hardships as those that are 65 and collecting social security. They can not go to work like most people over 65 are allowed to do while collecting social security benefits.
Correct, Democrat controlled government in bed with public workers and their pensions will always put that before anything else. Don’t be fooled folks, keep to your retirement plans elsewhere. Also, why can’t they drop retiree medical when public workers move out of state in retirement; pure corruption.
I would think persons who have income of around 500k
do not need aid to stay in NJ
I think the concept is good but do not believe that
500k is not the number.. A 500k income is plenty of money it should be lower
All you Republicans that are complaining about the STAY program please leave the state and we’ll take the tax credit you are bitching about! I think that our seniors me included will be happy for any cuts to our taxes. Republicans are notarious at complaining but backed that presiDUNCE CAP trumpy dumpy who TRIED to take down OUR CONSTITUTION. Where were these mouthy Republicans when Donald ducky trump screwed up our country.