Reply to Sunday's APP Editorial

We thought the Press had gotten it right on property taxes a while back when it pointed out the tax itself is inherently unfair. It is the only tax which takes no account of one's financial circumstance. No other tax is like that. Earn less money and income taxes go down. Buy few things and you pay less sales tax. The property tax oppresses those least able to afford it and at income to tax paid rates which could never be approved of for an income tax.

I live in Middletown. It has done everything it can to take advantage of purchasing through the county, inter-local agreements, reduction in staff. We also have the 12th largest school district in the state. One would think the economy of scale point of the editorial would be reflected in Middletown. But taxes have never gone down; they always go up. These things ought to be done regardless of the source of the revenue source. That is what responsible government is all about.

The point is that there is not enough savings in the system to eliminate the oppressive nature of property taxes. People thought they were too high twenty years ago when they were half of what they are today. To think forcing towns to consolidate is a panacea is naive.

The only answer is to eliminate the property tax. It must be replaced with a tax which will adjust when one's circumstances change. It is the only one that does not do this. If you lose your job or take a cut in pay or retire, income taxes go down. Spend less money and you will pay less sales tax. You can never say that about the PT.

There are countless other benefits to ending the property tax (E.g., no more drive for ratables. Retirees no longer choosing between eating or medical or paying taxes.) NJ needs a fair and equitable tax, which the property tax is not. Check out more:

http://endpt.wordpress.com/issues/detrimental-effects/

http://save-our-homes--our-future.blogspot.com/2007/01/benefits-of-elimination-of-property.html