Township Committee Supports Assembly Bill A-2753

The Township Committee passed a resolution in support of Assembly Bill A-2753 which would direct payment of energy taxes directly to municipal government.

They are now urging all of its citizens to show their support by writing their legislators to support this Bill and companion Bill S-1923 from the Senate.

Contact information below along links to the Bill.

 

A2753 Requires certain energy tax receipts to be paid directly to municipalities.
2nd Reading in the Assembly

Identical Bill Number: S1923

Benson, Daniel R. as Primary Sponsor
DeAngelo, Wayne P. as Primary Sponsor
Wagner, Connie as Co-Sponsor
Eustace, Timothy J. as Co-Sponsor
Coughlin, Craig J. as Co-Sponsor


5/10/2012 Introduced, Referred to Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee
12/6/2012 Reported out of Assembly Comm. with Amendments, 2nd Reading

Introduced - 7 pages PDF Format HTML Format
Statement - AHO 12/6/12 - 2 pages PDF Format HTML Format
Reprint - 7 pages PDF Format HTML Format
Committee Voting:
AHO 12/6/2012 - r/favorably - Yes {5} No {0} Not Voting {1} Abstains {0} - Roll Call

Green, Jerry (C) - Yes
Jasey, Mila M. (V) - Yes
Carroll, Michael Patrick - Yes

Clifton, Robert D. - Yes
Jimenez, Angelica M. - Yes
Quijano, Annette - Not Voting

Governor Chris Christie
State House, P.O. Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625
609-292-6000

Honorable Steven V. Oroho
(R) District 24, N.J. State Senator
115 Demarest Road, Suite 2B,
Sparta, NJ 07871
(973)300-0200 Fax (973)300-1744
E-mail: senoroho@njleg.org
Flanders Office
227 Route 206, Suite 15
Flanders, NJ 07836
(973)584-4670
Fax 973-584-4672

Honorable Gary R. Chiusano
(R) District 24, N.J. State
Assemblyman
115 Demarest Road, Suite 2B,
Sparta, NJ 07871
(973)300-0200 Fax (973)300-1744
E-mail: asmchiusano@njleg.org
Flanders Office
227 Route 206, Suite 15
Flanders, NJ 07836
(973)584-4670
Fax 973-584-4672

Honorable Alison Littell McHose
(R) District 24, N.J. State
Assemblywoman
115 Demarest Road, Suite 2B,
Sparta, NJ 07871
(973)300-0200 Fax (973)300-1744
E-mail: aswmchose@njleg.org
Flanders Office
227 Route 206, Suite 15
Flanders, NJ 07836
(973)584-4670
Fax 973-584-4672

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December 6, 2012
RE: A-2753 - Would Direct Payment of Energy Taxes Directly To Municipal Government
Assembly Committee Releases Bill to End State Diversion of Energy Tax Receipts

Dear Mayor:

Today in Trenton, A-2753 was released today by the Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee. League President Mayor Janice S. Mironov of East Windsor Township testified in favor of this legislation, which received unanimous, bipartisan support from the Committee.

The bill would require certain energy tax receipts to be paid directly to municipalities. This legislation would assure local property taxpayers compensation for hosting transmission facilities and lines that allow gas and electric energy corporations to serve customers and conduct business in our Garden State. Under current law, energy tax receipts are all collected by the state. Often, through the annual appropriations act, the state retains a portion of the energy tax receipts that are supposed to be distributed to municipalities under statutory law.

Thanking the sponsors, Assemblymen Daniel Benson and Wayne DeAngelo, Mayor Mironov stated:

The League's top priority for 2013 is the restoration to municipalities of funding diverted by the state from Energy Taxes intended for local use and property tax relief. Taxes on gas and electric utilities were originally collected by the host municipalities. When the state made itself the collection agent for these taxes, it promised to return to towns all proceeds for municipal property tax relief.

For years, however, state budget makers have diverted funding from Energy Taxes to fund state programs. Instead of being spent on local programs and services and used to offset property taxes, the money has been spent as successive Legislatures and Administrations have seen fit.
The cumulative impact of years of underfunding has left many municipalities with serious needs and burdensome property taxes. Local elected officials are in the best position to decide the best use for these resources. Further, these monies were always intended to fund local programs and services and reduce property taxes.

On behalf of Mayors all around the state, we thank the sponsors and strongly support A-2753. We urge all Legislators to support this measure and to restore this funding to its intended purpose.

Please contact your State Legislators and urge them to support A-2753 and its Senate companion bill, S-1923, sponsored by Senator Linda Greenstein, which awaits action in the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee.

If you have any questions on this, contact Jon Moran at 609­-695­-3481, ext. 121 or jmoran@njslom.com

Very truly yours,

William G. Dressel, Jr.
Executive Director