Doherty/Sweeney Bill to Improve the Efficiency of County Government Passes Committee

Measure Would Allow Counties to Share Tax Administrators, Providing Savings to Taxpayers

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Michael Doherty and Senate President Steve Sweeney to make government more efficient by allowing counties to share tax administrators has passed the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

“This will encourage government efficiency through shared services,” said Senator Sweeney. “It can produce cost savings for county government and the taxpayers. Sharing a tax administrator will improve access to information, allowing one official to gain a broader perspective of the tax equalization, revision, review, and enforcement policies.”

“The number one concern of New Jersey residents is affordability,” Doherty (R-23) said. “Allowing counties to share tax administrators with excess capacity will produce tangible savings for New Jersey’s overburdened taxpayers. We should continue to explore every opportunity to help local governments to share services and reduce costs.”

The bipartisan legislation, S-171, permits counties to share county tax administrators. Current law requires each county to appoint a full time county tax administrator.

The average salary for a New Jersey county tax administrator is $120,000-$150,000, not including the cost of pension and health benefits. County governments must also pay for clerical assistants, as well as the operations and management of an office for a county tax board and administrator.

According to the New Jersey Association of Counties, several counties have expressed interest in the expansion of opportunities for shared services with their neighbors, including the sharing of county tax administrators. Roughly 18 percent of property tax bills fund county government, according to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

“This cost saving measure scraps an antiquated state law that contributes to New Jersey having the highest property taxes in the nation,” Doherty added. “This is a step in the right direction to reduce the cost of government and save New Jerseyans money.”

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