MAYORS FOR “MAIN STREET” JOINS IN OPPOSITION TO ACS 1571/1576& S-1956
MAYORS FOR “MAIN STREET”JOINS IN OPPOSITION TO ACS 1571/1576& S-1956
Mayors for “Main Street,” an alliance of 22 Mayors across 5 counties, announced that they will be joining Mayors across the State of New Jersey in expressing strong opposition to ACS 1571 & 1576 and S-1956, which would impose prevailing wage requirements on any property where a public body has provided, approved, or authorized a tax abatement or tax exemption.
The economic incentive tool known as Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTs) is the single most powerful instrument available to municipalities to encourage property owners and developers to revitalize and develop areas in need of redevelopment and spur economic development in blighted areas. PILOTs work when a municipality determines that a specific project would not occur otherwise without a PILOT. This economic tool has been vital in municipalities meeting their affordable housing requirements, environmental remediation, improvement to infrastructure and other capital projects, not to mention the economic spur it creates for our main streets.
“New Jersey’s main streets have suffered enough prior to and during COVID-19,” said Dunellen Mayor Jason F. Cilento. “These economic incentives are the best means in our tool box to attract development to our main streets and spur economic growth. Dunellen has benefited from using this tool and I fear this legislation would halt further development and send us years back in this process that we have worked so long to accomplish. I implore the legislature to vote no on this bill so municipalities like Dunellen can continue to revitalize our downtowns’ and seek to stabilize taxes through redevelopment.”
Mayors for Main Street believe the increase in the costs of projects by requiring private property owners to pay prevailing wages for improvements to their properties will force greater strain on municipal officials by having them make further concessions in order to see these projects developed. Some concessions may include increased density beyond the needed density and building heights, as well as diminish the greatest feature of PILOTs, increased revenue to municipalities to stabilize taxes. Furthermore, Mayors for Main Street believe this bill is counterproductive to the State’s requirement of inclusionary units in these developments and also hinders future development and economic growth in New Jersey’s main streets.
In addition, the impact of COVID-19 has left our main streets in an economic downturn. Municipalities needed any and all incentives for economic growth before the pandemic but more so now than ever, they need it post-pandemic. Mayors for Main Street call upon the entire General Assembly and State Senate to oppose ACS 1571/1576 and S-1956, and if it reaches Governor Murphy’s desk, we implore him to Veto the bill.
Founded in May of 2020, Mayors for “Main Street” is an alliance of Mayors representing towns spanning several New Jersey Counties. The group’s mission is to advocate for the swift and safe reopening of businesses within their communities -- businesses that have been drastically and negativity impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also serves as a platform for local elected officials to share experiences, ideas and best practices.
Downtown New Jersey is an organization of individuals, businesses, government agencies, and local and regional organizations that are passionate about downtowns. Count on us as your resource for anything regarding the vitality of our downtowns in New Jersey!
For more information on membership, please visithttps://www.facebook.com/
Mayor for Main Street is comprised of the following elected officials:
Larry Jacobs, Mayor, Township of Bedminster
Janice Fields, Mayor, Bernards Township
Mary Jane Canose, Mayor, Borough of Bernardsville
Matthew Moench, Mayor, Bridgewater Township
Janet Hoven, Mayor, Chester Borough
Marcia Asdal, Mayor, Chester Township
Jason Cilento, Mayor, Dunellen Borough
Paul Vallone, Mayor, Far Hills Borough
Brian Tipton , Mayor, Harmony Township
Doug Tomson, Mayor, Hillsborough Township
Jim Mengucci , Mayor, Lopatcong Township
Richard Onderko, Mayor, Manville Borough
Christine Serrano Glassner , Mayor, Mendham Borough
Sarah Neibart, Mayor, Mendham Township
Al Morgan, Mayor, New Providence
Greg Skinner, Mayor, Peapack Gladstone
Todd Tersigni, Mayor, Phillipsburg
Zachery Bray, Mayor, Borough of Raritan
Michael Marion, Mayor, Warren Township
Al Smith, Mayor, Scotch Plains
Matthew Murello, Mayor, Washington Township
Jeff Herb, Mayor, White Township
