Question for New Jersey homeowners

[King Imp]

<p>Okay, I am completely confused now. For close to a year now we have been hearing how Gov. Corzine was determined to lower our property taxes since NJ is the highest in the country and it is getting out of control. He finally comes up with a plan to reduce most by 20%, but of course since most politicians are scumbag scheisters, they fought him tooth and nail on every little aspect of the plan. Heaven forbid we take money out of their crooked pockets. </p><p>Now, they finally seem to have a plan in place and it looks like something is finally gonna be done, but now every article I read talks about a bigger rebate check in Sept./Oct. and nothing about actually lowering the taxes. What the hell happened? What is a slightly bigger rebate check going to help when most of us are paying close to and in some areas well over $10,000 a year? </p><p>Did I just misunderstand the concept of this plan and they were talking about rebates all along? I was positive this plan was specifically going to lower what we pay in taxes instead. </p><p>&nbsp;</p>

[HBox]

<p><a href="http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--propertytaxes0211feb11,0,6297407.story?coll=ny-region-apnewjersey" target="_blank">Maybe this will answer your questions.</a></p><p>The increase in your rebate check will be equivalent to a 20% cut, less than that if your household income is over $100,000.</p><p>This isn't the actual tax reform that was promised, they are still supposedly working on that. This pretty much just for this year with the hopes that a deal with more structural, permament reform can be passed for next year. </p>

[King Imp]

<strong>HBox</strong> wrote:<br /><p><font color="#000080"><font size="2">This isn't the actual tax reform that was promised, they are still supposedly working on that. This pretty much just for this year with the hopes that a deal with more structural, permament reform can be passed for next year.</font></font> </p><p>In other words, we can pretty much forget about ever getting those true tax cuts since they will over time sweep this issue under the&nbsp;rug until the fickle public forgets it ever existed. </p><p>Yeah, let's throw money at them now so they forget all about the original plan. I fucking hate politicians! </p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by King Imp on 2-19-07 @ 2:46 AM</span>

[HBox]

The two biggest issues are State Employee and school district and municipality mergers. On the first Corzine wants to negotiate givebacks with the unions. New contracts must be reached by June I believe so by then we'll know how well that goes. On the second, well, voters just don't want to do it. And that's probably where the most money could be saved.

[spoon]

<p>So H, what do you really think will go down?&nbsp; </p><p>I'd really be happy if they can pull this off, but what's the reality of the situation?</p>

[King Imp]

<strong>HBox</strong> wrote:<br /><font color="#000080"><font size="2">The two biggest issues are State Employee and <strong>school district</strong> and municipality mergers. On the first Corzine wants to negotiate givebacks with the unions. New contracts must be reached by June I believe so by then we'll know how well that goes. <strong>On the second, well, voters just don't want to do it. And that's probably where the most money could be saved.</strong></font></font> <p>This is the one issue that really pisses me off the most. We do not have children, nor do we plan on having any. Because these parents are all whining about their schools possibly suffering with cuts, us non-parents have to suffer with taxes staying incredibly high. That's just bullshit! </p><p>I understand money has to go to the schools, but&nbsp;those of us without children&nbsp;shouldn't have to pay as much to put their fucking brats through it. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by King Imp on 2-19-07 @ 11:15 AM</span>

[lleeder]

<strong>spoon</strong> wrote:<br /><p>So H, what do you really think will go down?&nbsp; </p><p>I'd really be happy if they can pull this off, but what's the reality of the situation?</p><p><font face="wingdings,zapf dingbats" size="3">I love tax attorney Spoon hes the greatest</font></p>

[HBox]

<strong>spoon</strong> wrote:<br /><p>So H, what do you really think will go down? </p><p>I'd really be happy if they can pull this off, but what's the reality of the situation?</p><p>I think eventually there will be some reform. It probably won't go as far as most want. The legislature was ready to pass a law and basically cram benefit reductions down the throats of state employees until Corzine stepped in and convinced them to let him negotiate. In the end it depends on what he negotiates with them. Right now I kinda agree with him because I think the state employees are getting scapegoated a bit because they are an easy target in lieu of making deep cuts in spending and municipality mergers. The biggest thing as far as this issue goes is a restructuring of the pension program and outlawing dual office holding. Some people were holding jobs in two towns and thus getting two pensions and benefit programs, etc. The pension thing will be up for negotiation, a law to otulaw the dual job thing is up for consideration now and I imagine it will pass easily. </p><p>But who knows. This isn't over because this tax cut or whatever it is isn't funded past this year. Democrats are just hoping that this will get them through this fall's election and then try again.</p>

[spoon]

<strong>lleeder</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>spoon</strong> wrote:<br /><p>So H, what do you really think will go down?&nbsp; </p><p>I'd really be happy if they can pull this off, but what's the reality of the situation?</p><p><font face="andale mono,times" size="3">I love tax attorney Spoon hes the greatest</font></p><p>That's spoon silly.&nbsp; I'm not that pretentious.....yet!</p>

[spoon]

<strong>HBox</strong> wrote:<br /><font color="#000080"><font size="2"><p><font color="#000000">.....</font>But who knows. This isn't over because this tax cut or whatever it is isn't funded past this year. Democrats are just hoping that this will get them through this fall's election and then try again.</p></font></font><p>So, sounds like the Dems are going to use this issue in NJ like the Repubs use abortion in the whole US.&nbsp; Fuck us!</p>

[keithy_19]

It's New Jersey politics. Politicians have trouble helping the common person. It all sucks.

[HBox]

<strong>spoon</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>HBox</strong> wrote:<br /><font color="#000080"><font size="2"><p><font color="#000000">.....</font>But who knows. This isn't over because this tax cut or whatever it is isn't funded past this year. Democrats are just hoping that this will get them through this fall's election and then try again.</p></font></font><p>So, sounds like the Dems are going to use this issue in NJ like the Repubs use abortion in the whole US. Fuck us!</p><p>I don't think so. All this can do is buy them time at most. They promised reform and failed. Being Democrats they are already at a disadvantage generally in the minds of voters on a tax issue. I'm not sure if the voters will accept it. I can guarantee that if Democrats do hold on to the Statehouse this November and fail to get anything done in the next two years they will be swept out.</p><p>They are playing with dynamite here. It's not an issue that will neccessarily work in their favor unless they get something permanent done.</p>