[Abby4116]

Most Democrats in the Assembly and several Senate Democrats oppose the sales tax increase, fearing voter backlash and reserving any tax increase for property tax reform. Assembly Democrats proposed a series of alternatives, some of which Corzine accepted, but both sides remained $1 billion apart as the budget deadline passed.

Am I reading this correctly? They don't want to increase the sales tax, but rather they are reserving tax increases for "property tax reform"?

Generally, "property tax reform" does not mean raising property taxes.

Maybe they speak a slightly different language in Trenton.

[oceanview]

they do that in much of the northeast - its a way to feed more money into the teachers unions. the property tax is primarily composed of school taxes, which have been rising 3x the inflation rate as teachers/administrators salaries and pensions zoom. the state raises broader based taxes, and kicks some of that money back to defray the impact of the school tax increases, to calm the sheeple from rebelling against the public education complex.

[wagglebee]

When the 'Rats talk about taxes, LOWERING them is NEVER a real consideration.