LOWER SCHOOL TAX LEVIES SHOW
PROPERTY TAX REFORM IS WORKING

TRENTON – As voters go to the polls to cast their ballots in school elections across the state, decreases in school tax levies are demonstrating Governor Corzine’s property tax reform efforts at work.

“Today, in ballot booths across New Jersey, we are reaping the fruits of a concerted effort to ease the burden on property taxpayers,” said Governor Jon S. Corzine.  “We have increased state aid to schools by $614 million,primarily through our historic new school funding formula and we have imposed a four percent levy cap on revenues from property taxes. By taking these measures, we are witnessing one of the lowest average increases in school levies in ten years.”

Local school levies account for some 55 percent of property tax bills on average across the state, and about 2/3 in most suburban districts. This year’s increase at approximately 3 percent represents a decline in the current rate of 4.3 percent and 6.6 percent the previous year.

The administration is committed to enacting and promoting fiscal responsibility and is providing schools districts with the tools they need to prioritize spending decisions, maximize efficiencies and control costs. School districts across the state are making great strides towards these goals.

“These school budget ballot measures demonstrate that we are all locked in one interconnected system -- taxpayers and schools and local governments and State government.  As a result, we must examine the effects on the whole system even when we make local decisions,” said Corzine.

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Photos from Governor Corzine's public events are available in the Governor's Newsroom section on the State of New Jersey web page.