Business Partnership Announces Reform Agenda For An Affordable New Jersey

Bridgewater, NJ – The Somerset County Business Partnership has released the “Reform Agenda for An Affordable New Jersey,” a policy statement developed from input at the October 2, 2009 “Making New Jersey Affordable for Businesses & Residents: A Public Policy Forum.”

The Business Partnership collaborated with the Courier News, mycentraljersey.com, and Raritan Valley Community College, presenting a solutions-based forum focusing on topics related to the cost of living and working in New Jersey. The forum, attended by more than 300 people, was structured to obtain recommendations from the business community and from the public to be communicated to the leadership in Trenton.

The forum included panel discussions focusing on “Tax Solutions to Halt the Business Exodus” and “Property Tax Solutions.” The panels addressed methods of decreasing property taxes, collective bargaining, pension reform, impact of the Millionaire’s Tax, consolidation and shared services, the cost of corruption, and property/income tax reform solutions. Governor-elect Chris Christie and Gubernatorial candidate Chris Daggett offered their views on the condition of and solutions for the state’s economy.

The Partnership Legislative Affairs Committee has analyzed the content of both the panel discussions and the question/answer period that followed and developed the “Reform Agenda” that will become the basis for developing comprehensive recommendations that will ultimately be communicated to the Legislative leadership in Trenton.

- Reform the public employees’ pension system to make it affordable and sustainable.

- Reform the public sector bargaining system to reflect the public's ability to pay.

- Reform tax structure to keep businesses and residents in New Jersey.

- Reform New Jersey's dependence on local property taxes.

“The positions taken by the Business Partnership address a broad spectrum of reform,” stated Sheila Breeding, Co-Chair of the Legislative Affairs Committee of the Business Partnership. “Our goal is to create dialogue with leadership in Trenton and persuade our legislative leaders that they must carry the discussion to their colleagues.”