OCEAN TOWNSHIP, N.J. – After Governor Phil Murphy allowed months of lost business and income for people who rely on the summer rental season, Assembly candidates Matt Woolley and Mike Amoroso are relieved to hear an 11.625 percent tax passed last year has been repealed. Woolley and Amoroso are challenging Assemblywoman Joann Downey and Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling in the 11th legislative district.

“It’s unfair that beach-house renters had to wait until the governor returned from his thirteen-day family vacation at his multi-million dollar villa in Italy to get any tax relief,” said Woolley. “The delay in repealing the tax seems like a pure money-grab and Murphy’s procrastination hurt too many people this summer. Private renters lost customers and it is insulting that he didn’t care enough to make this decision before the summer season – when it mattered.”

Numerous reports have detailed how renters lost income because fewer people are renting their spaces, including customers who had rented for years. Others said they lowered rates trying to offset the tax passed last summer.

“It has been forty-four days since the bill was put on the governor’s desk, and a summer of missed opportunities because of this tax,” continued Amoroso.

It wasn’t certain that Murphy would sign the bill. During a radio appearance in July, Murphy dismissed concerns that individual renters were taking a hit. Airbnb reported increased bookings, which Murphy cited in response to renters who have lost customers. He told them that their position was unfounded and wished them luck before reversing his position Thursday night.

“We have been very vocal about the need to repeal the tax, and so have thousands of people adversely affected by it,” said Woolley. “Unfortunately, the District 11 legislators did absolutely nothing to hasten the bill’s signing.”

The bill repealing the tax was passed on June 27. It was unsigned for 44 days, with no word from Downey and Houghtaling, who sponsored the bill.

“Instead of advocating for their constituents, Downey and Houghtaling were absent from public pleas to end the tax. If they believed the tax was bad, they should have joined Matt’s and my continued calls on Murphy to sign it,” concluded Amoroso.

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