Lawmakers renege on property tax reform by Jan. 1

After a promising start by the state Legislature, I am disillusioned with recent developments in Trenton. The Legislature made some very forthcoming suggestions toward meaningful reform. This start has now been gutted by the very governor who encouraged the Legislature to be bold and forthcoming. The governor’s promise of meaningful reform by year’s end is now an empty promise.

I now have little faith in anything meaningful coming forth in the new year from the governor or the Legislature. I applaud [state Sen. Stephen] Sweeney for standing up for the people and against the governor and other special interest groups in trying to get true reforms enacted. It now appears our last hope is a citizens convention which the governor promised if nothing was accomplished by year-end.

I have to agree with the New Jersey State League of Municipalities director, William Dressel, when he states: “All they are doing is contemplating more oversight, more stringent spending caps, forcing consolidation and inhibiting local governments’ ability to provide adequate services and effectively manage their budgets.”

The mayors are closest to the people and should be heard. I also agree that sharing public services with local schools or neighboring towns would save tax dollars, but do not believe consolidation of towns would result in any tax relief. Consolidation will only add layers of bureaucracy and increase cost.

Frederick R. Wolke

Edison