Schaer, Mazzeo, McKeon & Houghtaling Bill Promoting Shared Services Clears Committee

Bill Allows Counties to Share a Tax Administrator

(TRENTON) – Both lowering the coasts to taxpayers and increasing government efficiency,, legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Gary Schaer, Vincent Mazzeo, John McKeon and Eric Houghtaling was approved by the Assembly State and Local Government Committee on Thursday.

The bill (A-439) would allow two or more adjoining counties to enter into an agreement to share a county tax administrator along with their respective staff.

“For homeowners in New Jersey, property taxes are the greatest burden,” said Schaer (D-Bergen/Passaic). “Sharing a tax administrator and clerical assistance is a common sense way to reduce costs to the taxpayers without losing services.”

The bill would also allow the counties involved in the shared service agreement to fix an annual salary for a shared county tax administrator and their staff that is proportional to the combined population of the participating counties and consistent with the current minimum salary requirement provisions.

“Shared service programs such as this one can help to improve quality of life and save money for our hard-working families,” said Mazzeo (D-Atlantic). “Sharing a tax administrator would increase effectiveness and efficiency in our towns’ municipal operations.”

“This is simply common sense legislation,” said McKeon (D-Essex/Morris). “This program will help promote shared services and save taxpayer dollars, all while maintaining public service.”

“Shared services programs are cost-saving measures that we should always take advantage of,” said Houghtaling (D-Monmouth). “This bill allows our municipalities to work together by combining resources and expertise in order to ultimately lower costs for our hard-working residents.”