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The Greater Atlantic City Chamber would like to thank the following sponsors:
Assembly Republicans Reveal Results of "Budget Ballot"
Over the past two months, Republican members of the state Assembly have mailed and distributed thousands of "budget ballots" to constituents to find out how they believe their tax dollars should be managed. Ballots continue to be collected and tabulated by local Republican legislators. To date, nearly 800 persons have voted online.
A new budget must be in place by July 1st. According to Assembly Republicans, the proposal submitted by Governor Corzine virtually eliminates all direct property tax relief for middle class families, raises taxes and fees, authorizes even more borrowing and actually spends billions of dollars more than the current state budget, when all sources of federal and state revenue are counted.
"Taxpayers are understandably anxious about how Corzine's budget will impact their own household budget during these difficult economic times," said Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce, R-Morris and Passaic. "We launched the 'budget ballot' initiative so people could have a say on the matter. After-all, it's their money."
Those receiving the survey were asked to rate the effectiveness of state government, how they feel about scaling back the eligibility requirements for those entitled to property tax rebates, if they would support raising an existing tax or imposing a new one, and how they would like to see their tax dollars spent.
Issues that rated low on the "most important issue" priority list were the level of state debt (8.4 percent), economic growth (7.37 percent) and state taxes (3.4 percent).
More than 96 percent said the state should reduce spending to close budget deficits; only 0.4 percent thought the state should raise taxes or borrow more money, and 2.9 percent suggested the state do "a little of each."
When asked if they believed all homeowners should be able to deduct their property taxes from their gross income on their state income tax form, 91.7 percent replied "yes;" 4.4 percent "no," and 3.7 percent were undecided.
Respondents were asked if they would support the elimination of property tax rebates if the money were used for a permanent, voter-approved property tax credit on their property tax bill. About 66 percent said they were open to the option, while 20.6 percent said they were opposed. The remainder were undecided.
People were also asked if they would support raising an existing broad-based tax, such as the state income tax or sales tax, or imposing a new statewide tax, if the revenue were constitutionally dedicated by voter referendum to lowering your property taxes. Nearly 60 percent were opposed to the idea while 24.5 percent were in favor. All others were undecided.
Another issue surveyed involved future financing for the state's Transportation Trust Fund, which will soon be unable to pay for any new road and bridge projects. The revenue it currently receives from the state gasoline tax will be just enough to pay the interest on past borrowing.
So people were asked if they would support increasing, and constitutionally dedicating by voter referendum, the state gasoline tax to provide more money for needed transportation improvements.
The results were mixed. A total of 52.7 percent opposed the idea in its entirety. The remainder were receptive, but to varying degrees. A total of 22.3 percent responded "yes," providing the increase in the gas tax did not exceed three cents; 14.8 percent were in favor, providing the increase did not exceed a nickel, and 10.1 percent were in favor, providing the increase did not exceed a dime.
People were also presented with a series of options regarding how tax dollars should be allocated by category. Respondents were asked to if they thought funding for these items should remain the same, rise or be lowered. They were asked to assume any increased spending in one category will require a spending reduction in another category. Here are the results:
Education and school aid
- Less: 50.8 percent
- Same: 36.8 percent
- More: 12.3 percent
- Less: 19 percent
- Same: 17.91 percent
- More: 63 percent
- Less: 22.8 percent
- Same: 36.5 percent
- More: 40.6 percent
- Less: 17.2 percent
- Same: 55 percent
- More: 27.7 percent
- Less: 53.4 percent
- Same: 36.3 percent
- More: 10.1 percent
- Less: 85.4 percent
- Same: 12.9 percent
- More: 1.65 percent
- Less: 33 percent
- Same: 44.9 percent
- More: 22 percent
- Less: 46.5 percent
- Same: 43.3 percent
- More: 10 percent
- Less: 43 percent
- Same: 44.4 percent
- More: 12.4 percent
- Less: 16.4 percent
- Same: 55.9 percent
- More: 27.6 percent
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