Amid the debate over taxes and pensions cuts, at least one aspect of the $32.5 billion budget that Gov. Chris Christie signed less than two weeks ago was virtually overlooked in the shuffle. And it’s one that will affect hundreds of thousands of residents right away.
They’ll have to wait another nine months to receive their homestead property tax rebates.
The elderly, the disabled, and low-income homeowners enrolled in the state’s Homestead program were supposed to receive an annual credit on their property tax bill in August. But faced with a $1.7 billion budget shortfall, Christie moved the credit until May of next year — 21 months after the last rebate.
That means the state won’t have to come up with $395 million in rebates until next spring.
“It’s important to be paid, but I think it’s also important to us how we manage our cash,” Christie said at a news conference back in May. “When you’re running out of money, you’ve got to manage your cash carefully, You’ve got to prioritize your bills and decide which ones you absolutely must pay.”
As he put it: “If I wanted to eliminate it, I would have just eliminated it. I did that before, in 2010.” Read more in Star Ledger.
We seniors should stop voting for the Republicans who can care less. From top to bottom I’m voting Democrat this year.
To Alter Bubbe,
Really now? And that will solve anything? So they’ll spend money that they don’t have to make you happy and then what? How will they pay for this shortfall? They’ll pay with MORE Taxes and HIGHER taxes on everyone, an I’m not talking about property taxes for which people can get money back. Since when is being fiscally responsible and not borrowing and spending a bad thing? If you really are an Alte Bubbe wouldn’t you advise your children and grandchildren to live their lives the same way…to try their best not to spend more than they have? And that if they find themselves short of money they should prioritize their bills and for example pay their mortgage and utility and food bills first?
To interesting, you better sit down, it appears you have drank too much of Christies Kool aid
To: Alte bubbe
My smart alte bubbe told me that in her days, before credit cards, if you didn’t have the money in your pocket, you didn’t spend.
Today, the alte bubbes are learning from the yinge irresponsible “gimme” crowd that you buy whatever you want even if you can’t afford it, and worry about the debt later.
Thankfully, we have a responsible man as Governor of NJ.