Gina Genovese leads Oct. 22 Property Tax Revolution Rally at State House

Gina Genovese, independent candidate for NJ governor, will lead a Trenton rally on Sunday, October 22, 1 to 3 p.m., to address the number one concern of New Jersey residents – ever-increasing property taxes. Calling it the state’s “first-ever Property Tax Revolution Rally,” Ms. Genovese urges the tens of thousands of taxpayers throughout the state who “have had enough” to attend the rally in front of the State House Annex and “shout at the top of your lungs that we no longer will stand for inaction in Trenton.” 

The impressive list of speakers on October 22 includes not only Ms. Genovese, but also the following: Chad Goerner- former Princeton Township mayor and leader of Princeton’s successful consolidation effort; Craig Heard- Chair Roxbury Mount Arlington Study Commission; Wayne Lavante, mayor of Newton and advocate for county-wide schools; George Kneisser Sr. – executive director, NJ Citizens for Property Tax Reform.

Small business entrepreneur, former mayor of Long Hill, NJ, and executive director of Courage To Connect, Ms. Genovese has the courage to be transparent and creative in finding solutions to a variety of New Jersey’s social and fiscal issues, particularly the “most vexing of them all” – the highest property taxes in the nation. Her goal is to reduce property taxes by at least 15 percent in four years and return four billion dollars to the taxpayers.

A recent poll conducted by Courage to Connect – a non-for-profit, apolitical advocacy organization promoting government efficiency and effectiveness through municipal, county, and school board collaboration and consolidation – revealed that 54 percent of the respondents had to work eight to 12 weeks to earn enough money to cover their property tax payments.

Ms. Genovese said her campaign was about “far more than municipal consolidation, which is only one tool but a crucial one in the tool box of ways to bring about real change.  Wishful thinking, lip service or shifting the burden of who pays never will be successful in reducing property taxes. NJ must and can reduce the expenses of 565 redundant municipalities and over 600 separate school districts.

“This is hard but extremely rewarding and important work that will have a beneficial impact on other priorities, including education, affordable housing, transportation infrastructure, the environment, which must be addressed in a truly sustainable manner.”

Her guiding principle of shared services and efficient use of resources applies to how she would approach higher education.  She proposes an option to graduate high school with an associate’s degree – an initiative already in practice at the Bard School in Newark.

“We have got to use our existing resources effectively to provide more enhanced and better services. We must avoid adding costs and focus on smart governance,” she said.

State House Rally on Sunday, October 22, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., State House Annex

·        Email gina@gina4njgovernor.com

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For more information about the background and policies of Gina Genovese, go to: www.gina4njgovernor.com