“Property taxes in New Jersey are the highest in the country, and something needs to be done,” said Vincent Militello, candidate for the State Senate from the 31st District. “Before we ask the people of New Jersey to reform the state constitution, we need to tell the state legislators to stop the spiraling budget.”

A holdover from colonial times, the New Jersey tax system is regressive and disproportionately affects residents with smaller incomes, according to a report by the nonpartisan, nonprofit organization New Jersey Policy Perspective.

“In New Jersey, in 2000, the lowest 20 percent in terms of income - those making less than $19,000 a year – paid 12.4 percent of their income in the three major taxes. Most came from sales and excise taxes, with a substantial amount in property taxes and none in state income taxes. The national average is 10.4 percent,” according to research done by the Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. However, “the wealthiest 1 percent sees a drop… down to 5.7 percent.”

The report, published in 2003, goes on to point out that, local property taxes make up nearly 50 percent of all state and local taxes collected in New Jersey, while the national average is only 30 percent. New Jersey’s dependence on an antiquated property tax system is what leads to the regressive nature of New Jersey's overall tax structure and routinely ranks New Jersey as the leading state in the nation in per capita property taxes.

“As I speak to the residents of Bayonne and Jersey City one topic dominates – taxes,” Militello said. “Bayonne and Jersey City are home to some of the highest property taxes in the United States. People want a change. Bayonne and Jersey City deserve a fair system of taxes, one which balances the state budget and still funds education and economic development without further burdening the taxpayers of Jersey City and Bayonne.”