As average bill jumps 33 percent in 5 years, issue sure to be huge in November
". . .The relentless growth of school, county and municipal taxes is bound to be a major issue as voters pick a new governor this fall. A Star-Ledger analysis in January found that the average homeowner's tax bill was $5,517 last year, 33 percent higher than five years ago.
"Taxes regularly show up in polls as a major gripe. Just last week, a survey by Fairleigh Dickinson University found that 51 percent of all voters think the top priorities of candidates for governor should be "controlling spending and taxes." No other issue came close.
""With budget pressures mounting in schools and towns as well as at the state level, it's the central issue," said Bruce Larson, survey analyst and a political science professor at the school. . .
"Few candidates have had more time to ponder the problem than Schundler. . . one of the two leading primary contenders along with Forrester.
"[Schundler] wants something stronger and broader -- a constitutional amendment that curbs state, local and county spending increases to reduce tax bills for all property taxpayers.
"Had Schundler's plan been in place since 2000, it would have avoided nearly $7.7 billion in state spending that could have been returned to taxpayers. . ."
-- Joe Donohue in the Newark Star-Ledger, April 17, 2005
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