Mayor Losardo Expresses Appreciation to State Officials
“It’s great to be heard,” Mayor Losardo says
SCOTCH PLAINS – June 16, 2022 – A week before Gov. Phil Murphy delivered his fiscal ’23 budget address on March 8, Scotch Plains Mayor Josh Losardo sent a letter on behalf of municipal leaders, calling for the governor to prioritize property tax relief for towns burdened with high taxes.
Losardo is now expressing appreciation to Murphy and legislative leaders, who plan to expand property tax relief to reach more than 2 million homeowners, following an unprecedented surplus of billions in state coffers for the fiscal ’23 year.
The mayor noted that Scotch Plains has done its part to keep municipal taxes down, as the rate has been stabilized over the past two years. In fact, the media recently reported that municipal taxes here are among the lowest in the state, compared with the rest of the property tax bill.
The expanded ANCHOR Property Tax relief program would provide $2 billion in relief to both owners and renters, Murphy said on June 15, in a joint event with Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and Senate President Nicholas Scutari, who represents Scotch Plains.
"It’s great to be heard. We’ve been steadily urging state leaders to make Scotch Plains more affordable for our residents,” Losardo said. “The ANCHOR program offers real and meaningful tax relief to our property taxpayers, reaching into our middle-class communities and having a substantial effect.”
For 870,000 homeowners with incomes up to $150,000, they should expect a savings up to $1,500; while an estimated 290,000 households with incomes between $150,000 and $250,000 would get $1,000 in tax relief. Moreover, 900,000 renters with incomes up to $150,000 would receive up to $450 relief to help offset rent increases.
“This is a historic moment. The state is using this cash windfall to provide tax relief that our homeowners and renters really need,” Losardo said. “I am pleased that Governor Murphy and the state Legislature have heard our call to use this rare time in our state’s budget history to do the right thing for our taxpayers.”