“New tax breaks for business but no rebate on the property tax for we common folk, the vast majority of which also go to support schools.”
Local school taxes are 3/4 of our property tax bills in NJ (among the highest in the country); thankfully Governor Christie capped our tax increases at 2%, so when the teachers get 4% raises cops, firemen, and teachers with the least seniority get laid off. This has been happening for years, and has chased many taxpayers (individuals and companies) out of the state. Initially it was because the taxes were too high (many of us basically pay a monthly rent on top of our mortgage); now it is because though they are stable (at a high rate), there is no money left to fix roads, fight crime, etc.. Teachers’ unions have destroyed our state; they are the enemies of those they “serve”, and are fighting any kind of immigration enforcement because many schools would close for lack of students without the foreign invaders filling the seats.
Could not agree more. Here in Westchester County, we have a town tax, school tax, and a county tax. There are sewer taxes, refuse district taxes, water taxes, automobile registration taxes, automobile insurance taxes, gas taxes, oil (heating and vehicle) taxes, a myriad of taxes on our electricity, telephone and cable bills, not to mention hotel taxes, sales taxes, mortgage recording taxes, taxes on commercial rental leases (in NYC), and the list goes on. The fascist governor put a 2% tax cap on budget increases but included no relief on the mandate side of the expenses—the pension and healthcare insurance for municipal workers and medicaid. Towns are being forced to cut their DPW, police, fire and other essential services while teachers unions keep getting more and more money. They are the biggest donors to politicians. In one town in the county, the school budget is $500 million dollars. They refuse to allow their books to be audited by the town council. The council is suing to audit them. They love illegal alien students because they get money for each one that is enrolled in the schools. Teachers unions are bankrupting the local governments.