What's UP with New Jersey?

[lsyorke]

$500,000 a day? Try $1.3 million according to the CCC.

Correction noted. Interesting that the CCC has it at 1.3 and the newspapers upped it to 2 million! Bottom line.. pass the budget with the 7% sales tax and be done with this!

 

[Kimberly]

The problem is that raising the sales tax would have a regressive impact on the budget. He would have more luck raising the state income tax.

 

[NewJersey]

Here is the latest proposal from the Assembly Demorats:

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/14917910.htm


I still side with Corzine on this after reading their proposal. Raise it 1% and be done with it.

 

[budbeerlady]

Help me out here, I am a bit confused and maybe I read this thread wrong.

Is all of your state sales tax at 6% or is it really depending on your county/city/township? (I thought I read a 3% post) and is it on everything but clothes? And why not on clothes?

In MI its 6% on everything but basic grocery items (milk, eggs, etc.) Wow, I would love 3% or even the no clothing clause!!!!! Thanks!

 

[LoraJ]

Help me out here, I am a bit confused and maybe I read this thread wrong.

Is all of your state sales tax at 6% or is it really depending on your county/city/township? (I thought I read a 3% post) and is it on everything but clothes? And why not on clothes?

In MI its 6% on everything but basic grocery items (milk, eggs, etc.) Wow, I would love 3% or even the no clothing clause!!!!! Thanks!

No tax on clothes. Not sure why.
The 3% is in urban renewal areas.

 

[melanie18]

Granted, the casinos are currently closed.

But unless you were planning on hanging out at our motor vehicle offices, courts or Dept. of Transportation, I think it's safe to say that tourists can still come visit NJ!

 

[jgmklmhem]

Just to enter the whole ticket part of this debate...having talked to many troopers here and in other states, given two cars breaking the speed limit it is advised (maybe not officially) to pull over the out of state car first because they will be less likely to try and fight the ticket in court due to the trouble of having to appear in another state (also saves the trooper from having to appear themselves). I doubt it is mandated in any way, but I can see the thought being in the back of a trooper's head when making the decision on two cars doing 80 in a 70.

 

[rayelias]

We have state income tax and sales tax.

AND some of the highest Real Estate taxes in the country.

How about cutting back on some of that spending instead of raising taxes?

And, Dear Gov. Corzine, I'm sure you're a pretty bright guy, being the ex-CEO of Goldman Sachs and all, but explain to me how shutting down the casinos which bring in nearly $2 million a DAY just in PAYROLL taxes and shutting down the lottery, which is a huge boon to senior programs is going to help solve the deficit?

It's like a family saying... "Oh, no, we can't meet our bills this month. I guess I'll stop going to work until I can find a way to pay the bills." You think Gov. Corzine would think it's a good idea for me to quit my job if I couldn't pay my state income taxes?

Maybe Mr. Corzine, one of the richest politicians in the US, needs to learn what it's like to actually have to work for a living. He's hurting tens of thousands of people by denying them salaries, hurting business, hurting tourism, and making NJ look foolish in the eyes of the rest of the country.

"It's the spending, stupid."

 

[Kimberly]

It also would be easier to cut the fat from the politicans in New Jersey, but that goes without saying...

 

[sweet angel]

Granted, the casinos are currently closed.

But unless you were planning on hanging out at our motor vehicle offices, courts or Dept. of Transportation, I think it's safe to say that tourists can still come visit NJ!

And lord knows...THOSE are fun places to visit!

 

[NewJersey]

AND some of the highest Real Estate taxes in the country.

How about cutting back on some of that spending instead of raising taxes?

And, Dear Gov. Corzine, I'm sure you're a pretty bright guy, being the ex-CEO of Goldman Sachs and all, but explain to me how shutting down the casinos which bring in nearly $2 million a DAY just in PAYROLL taxes and shutting down the lottery, which is a huge boon to senior programs is going to help solve the deficit?

It's like a family saying... "Oh, no, we can't meet our bills this month. I guess I'll stop going to work until I can find a way to pay the bills." You think Gov. Corzine would think it's a good idea for me to quit my job if I couldn't pay my state income taxes?

Maybe Mr. Corzine, one of the richest politicians in the US, needs to learn what it's like to actually have to work for a living. He's hurting tens of thousands of people by denying them salaries, hurting business, hurting tourism, and making NJ look foolish in the eyes of the rest of the country.

"It's the spending, stupid."

It's against state law to spend money without a budget. No budget in place, no money appropriated.

Corzine, himself, isn't saying "Oh, hmmmm what should I shut down today? Casinos, ahah! That'll be fun."

Corzine's plan actually calls for higher property tax rebates, while the Assembly's plan calls for the same amount of rebates as last year.

 

[rayelias]

It's against state law to spend money without a budget. No budget in place, no money appropriated.

Corzine, himself, isn't saying "Oh, hmmmm what should I shut down today? Casinos, ahah! That'll be fun."

Corzine's plan actually calls for higher property tax rebates, while the Assembly's plan calls for the same amount of rebates as last year.

On one hand, I can definately appreciate the first part and that he is actually following the state constitution (which apparently no other governor has).

But, because no one else has, there has been a precidence set, so, instead of "playing politics", why not just keep the government open, as it is every other year, let everyone who's INCOME depends on the government being open continue to work, and let them continue to debate the issue.

ALSO

One thing I never understood was the whole "property tax rebate" thing. Why should the STATE goverment be giving property tax rebates when they don't get the money to begin with? It goes to the local municipalities. Let THEM worry about balancing their budget. Let the state worry about balancing its budget. The "property tax rebate" is just political grandstanding in order to try and buy off votes.

 

[Kimberly]

Corzine, himself, isn't saying "Oh, hmmmm what should I shut down today? Casinos, ahah! That'll be fun."

If it makes a point in forcing his raised sales tax, then it would be an incentive for him to do it. The casinos tried to fight him to stay open, but the New Jersey government would not even hear it.

A sales tax would be merely a regressive tax, that being the problem. I don't even think of it as a real solution... a SLIGHT increase in the income tax would do more, and have a better chance of passing in New Jersey.

 

[lsyorke]

A sales tax would be merely a regressive tax, that being the problem. I don't even think of it as a real solution... a SLIGHT increase in the income tax would do more, and have a better chance of passing in New Jersey.

How is a 1% sales tax regressive??? I don't understand what you mean. It adds a small tax across of the board on purchases, which we have control over. Don't want to pay the extra 1 penny.... buy everything in a 3% city.

 

[gina2000]

New Jersey would benefit from a simplified tax form;

How much did you make?
Deduct the amount of $$ you sent to the IRS
Send the rest to the state of New Jersey.

Tell us how you REALLY feel......

 

[LisaNJ25]

If it makes a point in forcing his raised sales tax, then it would be an incentive for him to do it. The casinos tried to fight him to stay open, but the New Jersey government would not even hear it.

The casinos even offered to pay the ccc out of their pockets and they wouldnt hear it.

 

[Caradana]

Gina - priceless!

 

[NewJersey]

On one hand, I can definately appreciate the first part and that he is actually following the state constitution (which apparently no other governor has).

But, because no one else has, there has been a precidence set, so, instead of "playing politics", why not just keep the government open, as it is every other year, let everyone who's INCOME depends on the government being open continue to work, and let them continue to debate the issue.

ALSO

One thing I never understood was the whole "property tax rebate" thing. Why should the STATE goverment be giving property tax rebates when they don't get the money to begin with? It goes to the local municipalities. Let THEM worry about balancing their budget. Let the state worry about balancing its budget. The "property tax rebate" is just political grandstanding in order to try and buy off votes.

I agree that shutting the state down is a little silly, but they would somehow need to either appropriate money into the budget for this in case it happens in the next fiscal year to have funds set aside in case there's no budget, or some other method. I'm studying all of this now as I type for the CPA exam. They can't be sending out pay checks or what have you, with no money in place to pay for it (in theory).

And I agree with you on the property tax 'rebates.' I'm not too knowledeable on the issue since I'm not a homeowner yet but why not just reduce the property taxes? My gut says the state can't since they'd then have a bigger shortfall since counties and municipalities would be in a hole. Am I correct with saying the large portion of property taxes go to local education?

If it makes a point in forcing his raised sales tax, then it would be an incentive for him to do it. The casinos tried to fight him to stay open, but the New Jersey government would not even hear it.

The state can't do anything. It's in the Constitution of the State of NJ. The casinos tried going to the State Supreme Court but with no avail.

A sales tax would be merely a regressive tax, that being the problem. I don't even think of it as a real solution... a SLIGHT increase in the income tax would do more, and have a better chance of passing in New Jersey.

Sales taxes are historically known to be a regressive tax, I agree with you there. However, I don't see that being the issue here, since we are paying 6% already and raising it 1% will cost the average family $350 (depending on if you make large asset purchases). but if you use the argument that it's regressive, lower income families won't be doing that anyways. I would rather pay the extra 1% instead of paying more income taxes. I really trust the Governor with his plan, but hey we can't use 20/20 hindsight vision here yet.

 

[NewJersey]

I just watched Corzine speak to the Legislature, and I couldn't agree more with everything he said.

I didn't know this but yesterday was the FIRST time in the 6 day shut down, that the Budget Cmte. met. Corzine said that was unacceptable. He also said he's put forth another compromise (didn't go into details), and said this can be handled today. After he said that, he got a sustained applause and a standing ovation.

I applaud corzine for taking a tough stand that the same old politics can't work in NJ and continuing to put forth new ideas.

 

[NJDad18]

I did not vote for Corzine, but I applaud him for standing his ground. NJ is one of the most corrupt states in the nation. The state policitians are a part time job which pay approx. $35,000 per year, but once they leave office they get a pension for the rest of their life! Hey I worked for Sam Goody part time when I was a teenager so can I get a pension for the rest of my life, oh yeah it does not work that way. So since these politicos are only making $35k per year most have another job. And for a lot of them that job is a politically apponted job in which they were appointed by their cronies. State workers don't have to pay anything for their healthcare benefits. What if they had to state paying 5% of the cost of their benefits which most private industry employees have to pay. That would save millions. State workers also get paid for their unused sick time when the retire. Sick time should be use it or lost it.

We also have some just completly stupid positions that the state pays such as the poet laurete. Do we really need a state poet at $20k per year, I don't think so.

I truly believe that this budget crisis can be resolved without raising the sales tax, but I just don't see that happening.

As far as the state troopers being told to give out tickets, I don't know about that. I travel on an interstate each day to work and have not seen a cop yet. I think that you stand a better chance of getting a ticket traveling south on 95 through Maryland. Those cops don't mess around. Delaware is pretty strict too. No offense to anybody who lives in Delaware or Maryland, it's just my observation. The police seem to be doing their jobs.