Governor Phil Murphy

TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, and Senate President Nicholas Scutari announced an agreement to deliver historic property tax relief for New Jersey seniors while making a third consecutive full pension payment, providing record aid for K-12 education, and maintaining a robust surplus to protect against an economic downturn.

“No one should have to choose between retiring in the place they’ve long called home and their ability to afford to age here,” said Governor Murphy. “When coupled with the 18 tax cuts we have already instituted or proposed for lower and middle-income taxpayers, this compromise agreement prioritizes equity and affordability to decisively level the playing field for New Jersey seniors.”

“StayNJ is about our future and our families’ future. StayNJ will finally give New Jerseyans the freedom to choose whether or not to stay in New Jersey in their commu- nities and with their families when they reach retirement age,” said Assembly Speaker Coughlin. “Once you become 65, your property taxes will be cut in half or your rental aid will increase significantly and, combined with reduced health care costs, we believe we have taken a monumental step to make New Jersey more affordable for seniors. New Jersey is already a great place to live, work, and raise a family. Now it will be a place where you can retire with dignity and the freedom to choose to stay.”

Working together, the Governor and legislative leadership have agreed to provide an immediate boost to senior homeowners and renters through the current ANCHOR program while phasing in and targeting Speaker Coughlin’s proposed StayNJ property tax relief plan to seniors who need it most.

The revised plan will now include renters and cap income eligibility at $500,000 in order to provide historic relief while containing costs and maintaining the fiscal responsibility that has led to a string of seven credit rating upgrades in the last 16 months.

The leaders have also agreed to provide an immediate $250 per year increase in aid through the ANCHOR property tax relief program to both senior homeowners and tenants over the next two years while StayNJ is implemented. Eligible senior tenants will now see their relief boosted by more than 35 percent to $700 per year and homeowners will receive $1,250 or $1,750, depending on their income.

The leaders also agreed on language that will ensure the State maintains a commitment to fiscal responsibility and affordability in subsequent years by guaranteeing a minimum surplus of 12 percent of expenditures, as well as the full contribution to the pension system and K-12 school aid, and the $250 income tax deduction for property taxes paid by veterans, senior citizens, and disabled individuals.

In order to address any administrative challenges, a commission will be created and tasked with making recommendations by May 2024 to implement StayNJ through a singular program and application in order to cut property taxes in half for eligible seniors. A maximum benefit of $6,500 will be indexed to future increases in property tax bills to ensure this continued goal is met. The relief is expected to be delivered in the form of a direct credit on property tax bills in the first quarter of 2026.

The six-member commission – including three members appointed by the Governor and three members appointed by the Legislature – will also be charged with simplifying and aligning the current ANCHOR and Senior Freeze programs to determine the best way to deliver the property tax cut for senior homeowners while ensuring renters are prioritized as well. The Governor will also appoint the Commission’s Executive Director.

The cost for boosting aid through the ANCHOR program this year is expected to be an additional $140 million. The leaders have also agreed to place $100 million, $200 million, $300 million, respectively, in a lock box over the next three fiscal years to offset the total cost for the first full year of implementing StayNJ spanning calendar year 2026.

“This is a game changer for New Jersey’s seniors who are getting squeezed by escalating expenses,” said Senate President Scutari. “It will provide significant tax relief that will make the state a more affordable place in which to live, work and retire. Reducing the burden of property taxes will give senior citizens the financial security they need to remain in New Jersey, where they built their lives. We want to offer seniors and their families the ability to plan their future here in New Jersey.”

Legislators: Trenton Doesn’t Get That The Cost Of Living Is Too High

Capitol Comments

Senator Christopher J. Connors

9th Legislative District

TRENTON - As the FY2024 State Budget hearings close, Senator Christopher Connors, Assemblyman Brian Rumpf, and Assemblywoman DiAnne Gove (all R-9th) are calling on the Murphy Administration and their legislative colleagues to make tax relief and corresponding government spending cuts priorities to best serve the interests of taxpayers.

The 9th District Delegation issued the following statement:

“Unrelenting inflation has only exasperated the high cost of living in New Jersey that has the unenviable distinction of the highest property taxes in the nation. The State Budget is the state’s controlling document and, therefore, needs to be the centerpiece of fiscal reform and providing the financial security taxpayers desperately need.

“Obscene levels in state spending, entitlements for persons in the country illegally, and political pet budget projects will not help taxpayers in the short or long term but will give them incentive to move out of New Jersey to states with reasonable tax rates. Many residents we serve are bracing for another round of toll increases that will only add to the financial burdens imposed by Trenton. These policies include, but certainly are not limited to, increases in the gas tax and electric rates while at the same time political games are played with the state’s broken school funding formula.

“It is blatantly obvious that tax relief is desperately needed to stabilize taxpayers’ financial security, especially for those whose hard-earned tax dollars pay for State programs that they rarely qualify for under Trenton’s gimmick-ridden eligibility requirements. Yes, the ANCHOR program was a step in the right direction and gave reformers a glimmer of hope that Trenton was finally beginning to wake up to New Jersey’s affordability crisis.

“Responsible governing means prioritizing funding for core services and programs, especially those serving our most vulnerable citizens. However, state services aren’t any help if you can’t afford to live in the state in which they’re offered. State Budget deliberations to date have unfortunately shown the Administration’s policy mindset rests solidly with protecting government spending levels at all costs as opposed to sending excess tax revenue where it belongs- to the taxpayers.”

During the May 17 hearing of the Assembly Budget Committee, Assemblyman Rumpf raised concern to the State Treasurer about how the increasing cost of living in New Jersey has led 30 percent of middle-class residents to now be considered low income. The Assemblyman also questioned how the Administration’s use of federal pandemic relief funds for a new state Hall of Fame and the state’s bid for the World Cup would prepare New Jersey for a future pandemic. Additionally, Assemblyman Rumpf disputed the Administration’s proposal to spend millions of dollars on the Centre Pompidou x Jersey City, a satellite location for a well-endowed French Arts Museum, that could be far better utilized to help New Jersey’s most vulnerable citizens.

Bear: Continued From Page 1 woods to be aware there are bears there. Now I know it is a female (bear) and they can be dangerous.”

She was concerned that her fellow Crestwood Village V neighbors who walk small dogs could be pursued by the mother bear seeking food for her cubs. She also noted that trees in the area had been removed months ago.

“There were big trucks that came in and cut down all these trees. That was New Jersey Power and Light and they said it was because of the volume of people that they were going to put in cell phone towers on that property,” Reilly said.

She spotted a bear once again this past weekend. “It was at 4:37 in the morning and I got out my frying pan and spoon to make some noise outside. I know they are hungry but I was concerned about my neighbors,” she told The Manchester Times

Safety Precautions

If you encounter a bear don’t feed them. Their behavior can be unpredictable. Remain calm and make the bear aware of your presence by speaking in a loud, assertive voice, singing, clapping your hands or making other noises while keeping your distance from them and making sure the bear has an escape route.

Avoid direct eye contact which could be perceived by them as a challenge and never run from a bear. Instead, slowly back away. If you are with someone else, stay together as a group.

To scare the bear away, make loud noises by yelling, banging pots and pans if available and knocking rocks together. Make yourself as big as possible by waving your arms and if you are with someone else stand close together with your arms raised above your head.

Homeowners should clean grills and all utensils thoroughly and never put food or food residue in campfires or fire pits. Place garbage in airtight containers or bear resistant containers and don’t burn garbage or bury it.

Also keep dogs on a leash and remove leftover food after your dog has finished eating. Never attempt to feed or approach a bear as it is very dangerous and may result in personal harm or harm to others.

Garden Party Gift Auction

WHITING – Cedar Glen Lakeside Garden Club presents Garden Party Gift Auction and Venetian Table on September 23 at Lakeside Hall 100 Michigan Avenue, Whiting.

Doors open at 12 p.m. Tickets are $20 which includes one full ticket sheet (additional sheets available for purchase). For additional information and tickets, call Linda Burke at 732-740-0565.

Crestwood Village 6 Indoor Flea Market

WHITING – Crestwood Village 6 is hosting an Indoor Flea Market on September 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Table set up will be on September 29 from 3 to 7 p.m. Located at 6 Congasia Road Whiting, Deerfield Hall Clubhouse. Interior tables are $12 each. Wall tables are $15 each (total of 52 tables). Tables

Sunday Worship Services of Holy Communion at 10 a.m. &Wednesday spoken Holy Communion at 9 a.m.

Christ Lutheran Church

The Rev. Dr. J. Francis Watson, Pastor 40 Schoolhouse Road, Whiting, NJ 08759 Phone 732.350.0900 • Fax 732.350.0343

E-mail: christlutheranchurch2@verizon.net Website: christlutheranwhiting.com for sale for Village 6 residents only until end of July, then open to all other vendors.

Breakfast and lunch items will be available for sale. There will be raffles and a silent auction. Contact Julie Sutton at 732-849-5363 (leave your name and phone number if you want a table).