Scotch Plains Council Calls on State to Restore Property Tax Relief Fund

Gas and electric utility companies pay fees for the use of public spaces and rights-of-ways. These fees are collected by the state and the money generated from the fees is supposed to be distributed back to host towns to provide property tax relief.

However, a change in state budget language in 2008 has allowed the state to keep and spend the money instead of sending the money back to municipalities for its intended use as property tax relief.

The Scotch Plains Township Council has put its support behind legislation currently moving through Trenton to restore this fund and send money back to Scotch Plains to lower taxes for our residents. State Senate President Nick Scutari, who also directly represents Scotch Plains in the State Senate, is a prime sponsor of the bill and is working to get it passed.

“I am proud to join the call for more property tax relief and look forward to sharing our resolution with our State Legislators and the Governor,” said Scotch Plains Mayor Josh Losardo. “Our residents deserve their fair share of property tax relief especially our seniors living on fixed incomes and families raising children. The restoration of this fund will provide much needed relief. 

“I’d like to thank Mayor Josh Losardo and the entire Scotch Plains Township Council for supporting this critical property tax relief legislation,” Scutari said. “Affordability and property tax relief are my top priorities as Senate President, and I look forward to continue working with local leaders in Scotch Plains to restore property tax relief funding to the 22nd Legislative District and all of New Jersey.”

If passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor, this bill will restore $331 million in property tax relief to towns across New Jersey over a five-year period. The relief funding would start in 2023 and continue until fully restored in 2027.