Kim Guadagno Slams Phil Murphy After Release Of Arbitration Cap Report

Press Release

Earlier today, Assemblyman O'Scanlon released the 2017 Final Report of the Police and Fire Public Interest Arbitration Impact Task Force. The report found that the cap is working, saving New Jerseyans $2.9 billion since 2011. If not for the cap, property taxes would have increased 4% a year on average.

"By ducking this issue and not supporting the cap, Phil Murphy is once again taking the side of the Trenton special interests over the hardworking taxpayers of New Jersey who already pay the highest property taxes in the nation," said Kim Guadagno. "If Phil Murphy is allowed to repeal the arbitration cap, our property taxes will go even higher, services will be cut and more of our friends, families and neighbors will be forced to move out of New Jersey."

Guadagno added, "Just because Phil Murphy pays one the highest property tax bills in New Jersey and can afford to pay even more doesn't mean everyday taxpayers can. That's why I've pledged to lower property taxes during my first term or not run for a second."

The cap is set to expire on December 31. Kim Guadagno continues to demand Phil Murphy support the cap and urge legislators to extend it before the November election.

Yesterday, Phil Murphy told The Star Ledger that he would wait for this report to decide if he would support extending the arbitration cap. "There is a report coming out in December the latest," Murphy said at the Eagleton Institute of Politics. "I think we can find common ground so I'm going to wait till the report comes out, see what it says, and figure out with all sides of the table because that's my main objective to figure that out."

Among the report's findings:

The 2 percent arbitration cap saved taxpayers an estimated $2.9 billion from 2011-2015.
Prior to the cap, average property taxes grew 25.8 percent from 2005 to 2010.
After the cap, average property taxes grew 10.26 percent from 2010 to 2015.
If not for the cap, total property taxes would have increased an average of 4 percent annually through 2015.
Recruitment for police and firefighters continued to increase after the cap.
Upon releasing the report, Assemblyman O'Scanlon said: "The data contained in this report is beyond clear and convincing; it is overwhelming. It would be irresponsible for the Legislature not to take action. In fact, any legislator that fails to advocate for continuation of the arbitration award cap will be, by extension, advocating for the obliteration of the property tax cap and higher property taxes. There is no middle ground here."

O'Scanlon added, "Mark my words; if the cap isn't permanently extended taxpayers will unquestionably face much more dramatic property tax increases and cuts to municipal services."

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