New Jersey Senate Bill S2133

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/7/22
• Refer: 3/7/22

Caption

Permits municipalities to designate newly-appointed tax assessors as professional service contractors.

Impact

The bill amends several sections of existing state statutes governing municipal tax assessors. Under the proposed law, municipalities can enact ordinances to designate new tax assessors as professional service contractors. This change means that only tax assessors appointed after the ordinance's effective date would fall under this category, allowing municipalities to bypass the tenure protections that limit their ability to remove underperforming assessors. This could empower local governments to manage personnel more effectively and respond to changing needs.

Summary

Senate Bill S2133 aims to allow New Jersey municipalities to designate newly-appointed tax assessors as professional service contractors. This legislation intends to address issues concerning the tenure rights of tax assessors under current law which often makes it difficult for municipalities to replace ineffective assessors. By enabling these new assessors to serve under contracts rather than possess tenure, it provides municipalities greater flexibility and control over their tax assessing personnel.

Contention

While supporters of S2133 argue that it will enhance the efficiency of local tax assessment offices, concerns have been raised regarding the implications this might have on job security for assessors. Critics point to the potential negative impact on the career stability of tax assessors, expressing fears that it could lead to a less experienced workforce or a reliance on short-term contracts instead of fostering a long-term commitment to the role. The ongoing dialogue surrounding this bill indicates that the balance between flexibility for municipalities and the rights of tax workers is a contentious issue.