Bergen County Republicans Inc.

DONOVAN PROPOSES PRACTICAL TAX RELIEF PLAN FREE OF GIMMICKS AND COST SHIFTS

For Immediate release: May 26, 06
contact: Alan C. Marcus/201-902-9000

Property tax relief cannot be accomplished by shifting costs to the state, Republican County Executive Candidate Kathleen Donovan said today. She warned taxpayers to beware of pandering politicians who make promises they can't possibly keep and play the property tax relief shell game.

According to Donovan, the cost of our court system and probation was shifted from the county to the state over a decade ago. The promise of reduced property taxes has not been kept. We still have courts. We still have probation. The taxpayers are still paying for these services. The only way to reduce costs is to eliminate low priority costs and services and provide incentives for voluntary consolidation of services.

Donovan said that county government should function as a facilitator in conjunction with state government and provide incentives for municipalities to reduce their costs while still delivering necessary services in a cost efficient manner.

Donovan said that voters have learned to discern the difference between political promise and reality and criticized her primary opponent Todd Caliguire and Governor Jon Corzine for proposing impractical plans and protecting sacred cows. The Caliguire plan is a series of magic tricks and cost shifts. In the end taxpayers could pay more for less. It mirrors the Corzine plan which proposes that taxpayers pay more for less service."

Donovan earlier outlined a plan which would limit pensions and benefits to full time public employees. Elimination of pensions and benefits for part time political appointees will save tens of millions of dollars in long term costs to taxpayers.

Donovan said that while working with state officials to develop a comprehensive plan she would reduce the cost of government by eliminating outside consultants, halting funding and grants to outside agencies which should properly be funded by private sources and eliminating programs which duplicate others.

We do not need a study. We need action. And we will take that action in the first 90 days of my administration.

Donovan concluded property tax relief requires a cooperative effort among state, county, and local officials. My experience as a member of the State Legislature, as Chair of the $5 billion bi-state Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and stream lining of the County Clerk's office during a period of explosive growth uniquely qualifies me for this role.

###