The Brian Lehrer Show 30 Issues in 30 Days: Taxation in New Jersey
Oct 2, 2025
John Reitmeyer, a budget and finance writer at NJ Spotlight News, dives into New Jersey's taxation landscape. He unpacks the reasons behind soaring property taxes, discussing the high costs of local schools and public services. Reitmeyer contrasts gubernatorial candidates' tax proposals, from municipal mergers to new programs like Anchor and Stay NJ. He also explores the mansion tax expansion and the impact of school funding formulas. Tune in for a thorough analysis of taxation's role in the state's budget and its implications for residents.
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Why Property Taxes Are So High
- New Jersey's high property taxes mostly fund local services residents care about, especially K–12 schools and public safety.
- Rising wages, benefits and public employee healthcare costs push those local budgets higher and inflate property levies.
Tradeoffs Of Caps Versus Shared Services
- Candidates propose different fixes: shared services and regional consolidation versus assessment and cap changes.
- Any cap or freeze on local revenue raises questions about maintaining police, schools and other services.
Stay NJ Boosts Seniors But Lacks Funding
- Stay NJ would deliver much larger benefits to some higher-income seniors while renters get only modest Anchor rebates.
- The program is funded for this year but lacks ongoing revenue, so sustainability is uncertain.