RESOLUTION #2006-083

 

 

RESOLUTION OF THE BOROUGH OF HARVEY CEDARS

OPPOSING A STATEWIDE EQUALIZED SCHOOL TAX

 

 

            WHEREAS the Borough of Harvey Cedars has maintained a local Board of Education and provided a free public education to hundreds of young people by means of a contract with the Southern Regional High School District; and

            WHEREAS the citizens of Harvey Cedars have consistently supported this means of providing the “thorough and efficient” system of education required by law; and

            WHEREAS the Joint Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services is currently considering proposals to replace our local property tax for the support of schools with a statewide equalized school property tax; and

            WHEREAS this solution to the State’s property tax dilemma would be inconsistent with the Borough of Harvey Cedars’ commitment to efficient and effective home rule and would impose an even greater burden on local taxpayers.

            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of the Borough of Harvey Cedars, County of Ocean, State of New Jersey as follows:

  1. That the Mayor and Commissioners state their unequivocal opposition to either a statewide school property tax or a countywide public school system and advise our 9th Legislative District and the members of the Joint Committee of Government Consolidation and Shared Services of our opposition.
  2. That the Mayor and Commissioners request our legislative delegation to encourage the Special Session on Property Tax Reform to consider some of the other proposals advanced by the Governor to reduce local property taxes including the reduction of state mandated services, direct property tax credits, reduction of state spending overseen by an appointed controller, reform of pension and benefits for state employees, removal of civil service impediments to shared services, elimination of interest arbitration of public safety worker contract disputes, and an annual cap on local property tax increase.
  3. A certified copy of this resolution shall be forwarded to Governor Corzine, the 9th Legislative District, members of the Joint Committee of Government Consolidation and Shared Services, and the League of Municipalities.

 

PASSED ON:  September 1, 2006