Assemblyman Joseph Malone

MALONE: TIME TO END THE SELF-CONGRATULATIONS
AND BEGIN CRAFTING REAL REFORM BILLS

'The Public is Understandably Skeptical. We Must Deliver'

Assembly Republican Budget Officer Joseph Malone today called on fellow members of the joint legislative committees studying ways to reduce property taxes to move beyond "self-congratulations" and prove to a skeptical public that real reform can be achieved.

"I applaud my colleagues on the various committees for the effort that went into the formulation of recommendations for change," said Malone, R-Burlington, Ocean, Monmouth, Mercer. "But it's time to stop acting like Inspector Gadget, patting themselves on the back with flexible, extendable arms, and move forward." Malone is a member of the Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services

"Reports won't lower property taxes," Malone said. "That will require the passage of real reform bills that produce positive results. It's not enough to talk about 'long-term relief.' Taxpayers need a lifeline now."
Malone said any 20 percent reduction in property tax bills must be available to all taxpayers.

"We should not settle for anything less than 20 percent," Malone said, "and that should just be a beginning, not the end goal."

Malone said the public is understandably skeptical that they will see a reduction in their property tax burden because they have seen too many promises that were made, especially during legislative campaigns, broken.

"They won't forget how promises of higher rebates were followed by lower rebate checks," the assemblyman said. "Some saw their rebates vanish entirely. They deserve a permanent property tax cut, not a one-shot gimmick. That means we must guarantee that this program is financially sustainable and will endure. The only way that will happen is if we get serious about reining in wasteful and extravagant spending at all levels of government, especially at the state level."

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For more information, contact:
Assemblyman Joseph Malone / 609-298-6359
Assembly Republican Press Office / 609-292-5339