Union County High School Students Show Support for Millionaire’s Tax this Prom Season

Union County high school students wear #SchoolsNotMillionaires boutonnieres and corsages to prom to raise awareness for the need for millionaires tax in New Jersey’s FY2020 budget and draw attention to underfunding of schools.

Elizabeth, NJ —  Union County high school students displayed their support for the millionaire’s tax this prom season by distributing more than 100 handmade corsages and boutonnieres (flowers made of money-themed green paper) across proms at 8 Union County schools.

Students drew attention to economic disparities in New Jersey, where the top 20 percent of earners paid a lower percentage of their family income in state and local taxes than the bottom 80 percent. In Union County, .02% of the population are millionaires. Students highlighted how their families are struggling students to make ends meet, pay for college and have a brighter future.

Axel Rodriguez, high school senior, prom-goer, and youth leader at Make the Road New Jersey, said: “It’s very difficult to raise taxes on the rich because they’re well connected and vocal. We are calling on our legislators to do the right thing and put tax fairness in our budget.That’s why I’m wearing a #schoolsnotmillionaires corsage this prom season.”

If New Jersey millionaires were paying their fair share, taxpayers would receive property tax relief, which would free up the state to make bold investments in the New Jersey Transit and colleges and universities, which are proven to strengthen our economy and support students.

“New Jersey has arguably more rich people than any other state — and the number of high earners is growing. So it’s safe to say that the rich have benefited most from our growing economy, yet they continue to pay a lower share of their income in local and state taxes than anyone else. That doesn’t sound right to me,” said Lisbeth Argueta, high school senior, prom-goer, and youth leader at Make the Road New Jersey, about why she and her partner are joining efforts to push for a millionaire’s tax in the FY2020 budget.

Students also launched a video, calling on the legislature to pass the millionaire’s tax.

http://www.maketheroadnj.org/