Floats Idea to Let Towns Skip Pension Payments, Expect State to Do the Same

Senator Kevin O'Toole (R-40), a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, responded to reports that Governor Jon Corzine will offer municipalities the opportunity to defer up to $500 million of pension payments that they would otherwise need to make next April, requiring those payments to be paid over the following three years.

Republicans knew that the new COAH rules were a huge unfunded mandate. Now they know just how big. The best estimate is that it will cost communities $2 billion a year to meet these requirements for "affordable" housing.

GREENSTEIN: PROPOSED EXPANSION OF 'SENIOR FREEZE'
WELCOME RELIEF IN ECONOMIC STORM

(TRENTON) - Responding to Governor Jon S. Corzine's proposed expansion of the state's popular "Senior Freeze" property tax relief program to more older and disabled homeowners, Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein said she would take up the charge by sponsoring legislation in the Assembly to put the plan into action.

ADLER-SMITH BILL TO EXEMPT RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS FROM PROPERTY TAXES SIGNED INTO LAW

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators John H. Adler and Bob Smith which will exempt renewable energy systems, such as solar panels, from local property taxes was signed into law yesterday by Governor Corzine.

“One of the biggest challenges we face in the next decade is breaking our national reliance on foreign-produced fuel,” said Senator Adler, D-Cherry Hill. “I am sick of sending American money around the world to buy oil from countries that hate us. This law will help us grow our own economy and protect our environment at the same time, while reducing our dependence on foreign oil.”

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS DEMOCRATS REFUSE TO DEBATE: HIDING USE
OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS

Governor's spending plan assures higher taxes, fees and tolls

ADLER-SMITH BILL TO EXEMPT RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS FROM PROPERTY TAXES APPROVED IN SENATE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators John H. Adler and Bob Smith which would exempt renewable energy systems, such as solar panels, from local property taxes was approved today by the Senate by a vote of 37-0.

“With skyrocketing fuel and energy costs, renewable energy is about more than just saving the environment,” said Senator Adler, D-Cherry Hill. “We should encourage more New Jersey families to turn to solar panels, and make sure that people can afford to go green.”

BIPARTISAN BILLS FOR NOVEMBER SCHOOL ELECTIONS,
SLASHING SCHOOL OVERHEAD COSTS CLEAR COMMITTEE
Measures Aim to Enhance Accountability at School Board Level,
Clamp Down on Non-Classroom Administrative Costs

(TRENTON) - Two bipartisan measures Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr. is championing to enhance local voters' ability to hold elected school board members accountable for their fiscal and policy decisions and to slash inefficient non-classroom administrative spending in public schools were released today by the Assembly Education Committee.

ROBERTS: LET COUNTY SUPERS NEGOTIATE
TEACHER CONTRACTS
Speaker Says Executive County School Superintendents Should Be Empowered
To Negotiate Contracts, Cut Administrative Costs

(TRENTON) - Seeking to address the expenses associated with hundreds of different negotiations and the wide town-by-town disparities in education costs, Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr. today proposed empowering the state's executive county school superintendents to negotiate countywide teacher contracts and to slash non-classroom administrative spending in schools.

ADLER BILL TO EXEMPT RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS FROM PROPERTY TAXES APPROVED IN COMMITTEE

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator John H. Adler which would exempt renewable energy systems, such as solar panels, from local property taxes was unanimously approved by the Senate Economic Growth Committee today.