Scutari introduces senior property tax plan in Senate

Senate President Nick Scutari (D-Linden) introduced a huge senior property tax relief bill in the Senate today, giving the bill – originally proposed and promoted by Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-Woodbridge) – a major boost with a month left of budget negotiations.

Immediately after Scutari’s announcement, three Democratic senators running for re-election this year in competitive legislative districts – State Sens. Vin Gopal (D-Long Branch), Andrew Zwicker (D-South Brunswick), and Joe Lagana (D-Paramus) – said they would support the bill. Gopal is also a sponsor of the bill alongside Scutari.

“This is a game changer for New Jersey’s seniors,” Scutari said in a statement. “We are now in the business of reducing taxes and making the state a more affordable place for people to live, work and retire. Eliminating 50 percent of their property tax bills will provide seniors more financial security so they can stay in New Jersey.” 

Under the provisions of the program, which is nicknamed StayNJ, New Jerseyans over 65 would be eligible for a tax credit worth 50% of their annual property tax bill, with a cap of $10,000. Gopal said that the plan would be another big win for overtaxed New Jerseyans after the debut of the ANCHOR Program last year.

“Most seniors around the Garden State are living on a fixed income, yet the cost of living continues to rise,” he said in a statement. “I want to commend the Speaker and Senate President for putting forward a plan that will provide significant property tax relief for our seniors. Too many residents look beyond our borders when it comes time to retire.”

Two other Democrats running for competitive Senate seats this year, Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-Washington) and former Assemblyman John Burzichelli (D-Paulsboro), previously said they support the plan. (As an incumbent legislator, Moriarty will have the ability to vote for it in the Assembly.)

And Republicans, who have long clamored for property tax relief, may be inclined to support the bill even if they don’t like Democrats’ strategy. Assemblyman Brian Bergen (R-Denville), for example, said last night that while he thought the plan was a “disingenuous” election-year stunt, he’d still vote for it if it came to the floor.

That puts the legislature on a collision course with Gov. Phil Murphy, whose administration has blasted the plan as “irresponsible.” If the legislation continues accumulating support, that could force the governor’s hand into either going along with a policy he dislikes or vetoing a broadly popular bill supported by his own party.