Jersey City Should Nix Proposed Payroll Tax, Share PILOT Payments with Schools
Senator Mike Doherty (R-23) said Jersey City’s consideration of a new payroll tax would hurt the city’s efforts to lure businesses and jobs from New York, and suggested the city change how it shares payments from tax abated properties as a better alternative to fund local schools.
Sen. Mike Doherty said a proposed payroll tax would hurt Jersey City’s competitiveness. He said sharing payments from tax abated properties is a better alternative to fund schools. (SenateNJ.com)
“Jersey City has asked for and used many tax incentives over the years, including UEZs and PILOT agreements, to draw both development and jobs from across the river,” said Doherty. “The imposition of a new payroll tax would negate the various benefits they’ve offered, creating a complicated tax picture that would discourage future investment in Jersey City.”
Doherty Opposes Effort to Inject Identity Politics Into School Textbooks
Says Ridiculous State Mandates Dilute Ability of Schools to Teach Fundamentals
During today’s meeting of the Senate Education Committee, Senator Mike Doherty (R-23) expressed his opposition to legislation that would force school districts to buy textbooks from vendors on a list approved by the New Jersey Department of Education (DOE) due to their incorporation of “inclusive material.”
Sen. Mike Doherty opposed legislation that would force school districts to buy textbooks from vendors on a list approved by the NJDOE due to their incorporation of ‘inclusive material.’ (Flickr)
“Our state spends too much time trying to incorporate identity politics into our curriculum, and too little ensuring that all of our students are proficient in the basics of reading, writing, science, and math when they graduate,” said Doherty. “The simple fact is a math textbook should teach math, a chemistry textbook should teach chemistry. A publisher that produces a textbook that effectively teaches those topics shouldn’t be barred for failing to reach some bureaucrat’s vague standard for ‘inclusive materials.'”
Senate Passes Doherty/Sweeney Bill Allowing Counties to Share Tax Administrators
The New Jersey State Senate has passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Mike Doherty and Senate President Steve Sweeney that would increase government efficiency and lower the cost to taxpayers, by allowing counties to share tax administrators.
Sens. Mike Doherty and Steve Sweeney’s bipartisan bill would increase government efficiency and lower the cost to taxpayers, by allowing counties to share tax administrators. (SenateNJ.com)
“Inefficiencies at the county level are bleeding taxpayers dry. We must seize every opportunity to encourage local governments to share services, and bring these costs down. Allowing counties to share a tax administrator is a great start,” Senator Doherty (R-23) said. “I look forward to seeing our communities reap the rewards of this commonsense change.”
Doherty Introduces Legislation to Allow Dogs at Microbreweries
Measure Would Permit Dogs in Sampling & Tasting Areas
Senator Mike Doherty (R-23) has introduced legislation that would allow dogs to accompany their owners during tastings at microbreweries.
Sen. Mike Doherty has introduced legislation that would allow dogs to accompany their owners during tastings at microbreweries. (©iStock)
“New Jersey’s microbrewing industry is growing at a rapid pace, but it needs our support to continue expanding,” said Doherty. “We’ve heard from brew pub operators that many customers who stop in for a tasting have their dogs in tow, which creates conflict with public health officials who don’t like pets in establishments where food or drink is consumed. It’s possible to meet the demands of customers without sacrificing the cleanliness we expect when we visit our microbreweries.”
Doherty/Sweeney Bill to Improve the Efficiency of County Government Passes Committee
Legislation sponsored by Senator Michael Doherty and Senate President Steve Sweeney to make government more efficient by allowing counties to share tax administrators has passed the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Michael Doherty and Sen. President Steve Sweeney to make government more efficient by allowing counties to share tax administrators has passed the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
“This will encourage government efficiency through shared services,” said Senator Sweeney. “It can produce cost savings for county government and the taxpayers. Sharing a tax administrator will improve access to information, allowing one official to gain a broader perspective of the tax equalization, revision, review, and enforcement policies.”
“The number one concern of New Jersey residents is affordability,” Doherty (R-23) said. “Allowing counties to share tax administrators with excess capacity will produce tangible savings for New Jersey’s overburdened taxpayers. We should continue to explore every opportunity to help local governments to share services and reduce costs.”
Bucco/Doherty Bill to Heighten Teen Awareness of Safe Haven Act Passes Senate
Program Permits Newborns and Infants to Be Surrendered Safely, Anonymously & Legally
Senator Anthony Bucco and Senator Michael Doherty’s legislation ensuring high school students are taught about the “New Jersey Safe Haven Protection Act” has unanimously passed the New Jersey Senate.
Sen. Anthony Bucco & Sen. Michael Doherty’s legislation ensuring high school students are taught about the “New Jersey Safe Haven Protection Act” has unanimously passed the New Jersey Senate. (NJDCF)
“Teenage parents often hide pregnancies to avoid punishment from parents, and they’re among the most likely to abandon a newborn baby in an unsafe manner,” Bucco (R-25) said. “New Jersey’s Safe Haven Act has proven to saves lives by giving parents who may not want a child a safe, anonymous, and legal way to surrender a baby. We need to make sure that all of our students understand this option, which can protect a baby from harm and prevent teen parents from making extremely bad choices that may send them to jail.”
Doherty: Gov. Murphy Cuts Property Tax Rebates by $150 Million to Give Massive Union Raises
Murphy Reveals CWA Raises & Back Pay to Cost NJ Taxpayers $148.9 Million
Senator Mike Doherty expressed grave concern that the massive cost of pay raises that Governor Phil Murphy wants to give a public employee union matches almost dollar for dollar the steep cuts his administration proposed to the popular Homestead Benefit property tax relief program.
Sen. Mike Doherty said the massive pay raises that Gov. Phil Murphy wants to give a public employee union will be funded through cuts to the Homestead Benefit property tax relief program. (Pixabay)
“It’s beyond outrageous that Governor Murphy is cutting property tax rebates for seniors to fund pay raises for a public employee union that supported his election,” said Doherty (R-23). “Governor Murphy is demonstrating how little he cares for New Jersey taxpayers.”
Doherty Slams Gov. Murphy’s Plan to Cut Property Tax Rebates by Half
Governor Wants to Slash Homestead Benefit Program After Campaigning to Increase Rebates
Senator Michael Doherty said that Governor Phil Murphy’s budget proposal for 2019 is looking even worse as more details are revealed, including his plan to cut property tax rebates by more than 50 percent next year.
Sen. Mike Doherty slammed Gov. Phil Murphy’s proposal to cut property tax rebates by more than 50 percent next year. (SenateNJ.com)
“It’s sickening that Governor Murphy wants to reduce property tax rebates further despite promising during his campaign to restore cuts imposed by Democrats in the current budget,” said Doherty (R-23). “With the highest property tax bills in the nation, New Jerseyans need more property tax relief, not less as Governor Murphy has proposed.”
Doherty, DiMaio & Peterson Highlight $5 Million Transportation Aid Program Benefitting Hunterdon, Somerset & Warren Counties
Senator Michael Doherty, Assemblyman John DiMaio, and Assemblyman Erik Peterson (R-Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren) announced $5 million dollars through New Jersey Department of Transportation’s Municipal Aid Program will be allocated toward twenty-six infrastructure projects in Legislative District 23.
Senator Michael Doherty, Assemblyman John DiMaio, and Assemblyman Erik Peterson announced $5 million dollars through New Jersey Department of Transportation’s Municipal Aid Program will be allocated toward twenty-six infrastructure projects in Legislative District 23.
(SenateNJ.com)
“I am pleased that over $5 million dollars is being invested in Hunterdon, Somerset, and Warren counties to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure,” said Doherty. “New Jerseyans have the highest tax burden in the country. This return on investment to rebuild the roads in our backyard will make the daily commutes easier and more enjoyable for so many residents.”
Doherty Opposes Bill Eliminating Superintendent Salary Caps
Education Committee Passes Bill on Partisan Lines
Senator Mike Doherty (R-23), a member of the Senate Education Committee, opposed the committee’s approval of legislation (S-692) that would hurt property taxpayers by prohibiting the New Jersey Department of Education from regulating the maximum salaries for school district superintendents.
Doherty: No Shortage of Candidates for Superintendent Positions with Salary Cap
Superintendents are among the most highly compensated individuals anywhere in the state of New Jersey, and whenever these positions open up with this salary cap in place, you get dozens, if not hundreds of applicants. Removing the salary cap is unnecessary, and will lead to unnecessary property tax increases.
Posted by Mike Doherty on Friday, January 26, 2018
“The superintendent salary caps imposed in 2011 were part of the successful effort to slow the out-of-control property tax growth that occurred during the McGreevey and Corzine administrations,” said Doherty. “It’s concerning that one of our first actions with Phil Murphy as Governor is an effort to undo an effective policy that worked to control property taxes. We shouldn’t remove this important protection for taxpayers.”
