N.J. mayors to rally for
constitutional convention
One last chance
to get plan on
November ballot
By kathy baratta
Staff Writer

A proposal to call a constitutional convention at which delegates would explore the issue of property tax relief for state taxpayers was shot down by the state Senate last week.

However, the possibility of a constitutional convention may not be dead in the water this year, according to Repub-lican Assemblyman Ronald Dancer of Plumsted.

According to Dancer, more than 200 mayors from around the state will meet for a rally at the Statehouse in Trenton today in an effort to coax state Senate co-Presidents John O. Bennett and Richard J. Codey, and Gov. James McGreevey to ask for the state Senate to convene a special session on or before July 25.

Howell Mayor Timothy J. Konopka said he intends to attend the rally because he fully supports the idea of convening a constitutional convention.

The July 25 date is important due to the fact that — since the proposal for the constitutional convention passed in the state Assembly — if it is approved by the state Senate by that date, it can still be put on the ballot for a public question in November if the governor signs a bill by July 26.

According to Dancer, the bill itself was not voted down by the Senate last week; the procedural motion that would have posted it for a vote was defeated when only 12 senators (21 were needed) voted to put the bill on the agenda.

Dancer said the mayoral convention at the Statehouse today could breathe life back into the proposal for a constitutional convention.

Such a convention would see elected delegates gather in an attempt to come up with a different way of funding New Jersey’s public schools. At present, property taxes fund the schools and taxpayers around the state have been calling for relief from their escalating property tax bills.

Dancer’s Republican colleague from the 30th Legis-lative District, Sen. Robert Singer of Lakewood, told the Tri-Town News he is "angry" the proposal was voted down last week.

"This [June 30 closing of the state Senate session] was a golden opportunity to do it," Singer said. "Unfortunately, a lot of people oppose it because they like the status quo. It is clear that a majority of the Senate does not want property tax relief for the taxpayers of New Jersey."

Singer said unless New Jersey residents force their legislators to understand that it is "unbearable for young families and seniors to keep paying these [escalating] taxes," nothing will change.

"This is a good piece of legislation that would have allowed voters to have a say in how they spend their tax dollars," he said.

Singer said a constitutional convention would have been charged with preparing a proposal that would eliminate the inequities in the current system of property taxation, ensure greater uniformity in the application of property taxes and reduce property taxes as a share of overall revenue.

Singer’s challenger in the upcoming 30th District Senate race, Howell resident Steve Morlino, said he, too, is "all for a constitutional convention to specifically discuss funding sources for education."

"We’ve elected a legislative body that’s failed to act," the candidate said.