Amends Constitution to require Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Act aid and Consolidated Municipal Property Tax Relief Aid programs be fully funded each year, with dedicated amounts distributed to municipalities.
If enacted, SCR12 would significantly alter how state funding is distributed to municipalities in New Jersey. Current practices allow the state to sometimes override mandated distributions, directing funds to other state programs instead. By constitutionalizing these funding amounts, SCR12 seeks to protect local municipalities from budgetary cuts and provide them with a guaranteed stream of revenue based on the defined formulas. As a result, municipalities would have a more robust financial framework, potentially improving services and infrastructure funding across local governments.
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 12 (SCR12) aims to amend the New Jersey Constitution to mandate that the state fully fund the Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Act and the Consolidated Municipal Property Tax Relief Aid (CMPTRA) programs each year. The proposed amendment stipulates specific base amounts for both programs, which are to be adjusted for inflation each year. The amendment establishes the base funding amounts to be derived from fiscal year distributions in 2009 for CMPTRA and 2018 for energy taxes. This alteration intends to ensure financial resources are regularly allocated to municipalities, enhancing their financial stability.
The amendment may spark contention as it obliges the state to prioritize designated funding for local aid over other state needs. Opponents of the bill might argue that this could limit the state's fiscal flexibility, restricting its ability to allocate resources based on evolving needs or emergencies. Advocates, however, emphasize that municipalities have faced inconsistent funding in the past, and establishing a constitutional requirement would prevent future funding lapses and provide necessary local support.