224-10

224-10 August 17, 2010 RESOLUTION CALLING ON THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT PROPERTY TAX REFORM WITH PASSAGE OF THE “MUNICIPAL TOOLKIT” AND OTHER AND MANDATES RELIEF WHEREAS, Governor Christopher Christie and the State Legislature have agreed on and approved a 2% statutory cap for annual property tax levy increases; and WHEREAS, New Jersey mayors and municipal officials can support such caps, as long as municipalities are also given the tools to continue to provide our citizens with high-quality, life-sustaining and life-enhancing vital services, within that limit; and WHEREAS, we agree with Governor Christie when he said, “It’s not just the cap. It’s the toolkit as well. Both must be done. One cannot be done without the other. If you do the toolkit without the cap, it renders the toolkit less effective. If you do the cap without the toolkit, it makes the cap unworkable. Both have to be done together;” and without the toolkit, it makes the cap unworkable. Both have to be done together;” and WHEREAS, there is a danger that the cap will be enacted while the management reforms are delayed; and WHEREAS, it is, therefore, imperative for the other toolkit and mandates reform bills to be on the Governor’s Desk before the Legislature votes to advance the proposed caps; now therefore be it RESOLVED, by the Township Council of the Township of West Orange, County of Essex and State of New Jersey that the Township of West Orange calls for immediate passage of the “Toolkit” reforms and mandates relief, including, but not limited to interest arbitration reform, civil service reforms, public employee pension and benefits, disciplinary procedures, school and special district elections, eliminate the Fair Housing Act and the Council on Affordable Housing and mandates relief; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that statutory arbitration reforms must limit the full economic impact of awards to confirm to the 2% cap; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that municipal revenues, such as the Energy Tax, which are now collected by, and diverted to, the State, but which are legally intended for municipal property tax relief, must be constitutionally dedicated for their original purpose; or in the alternative, those taxes should be reformed to allow collection directly by municipalities; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Administration and Legislature must advance immediate

urpose; or in the alternative, those taxes should be reformed to allow collection directly by municipalities; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Administration and Legislature must advance immediate mandates relief initiatives to assist municipalities in managing within the 2% cap; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Administration and Legislature must advance reforms to the Fair Housing Act and the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH); and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this Resolution be forwarded to New Jersey Governor Christopher Christie, to Senate President Stephen Sweeney, to Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, to our State Senator, to our two Representatives in the General Assembly, and to the New Jersey League of Municipalities. Karen J. Carnevale Honorable Sal M. Anderton Township Clerk Council President Adopted: August 17, 2010 Approved as to form on the basis of the facts provided: