Local chamber of commerce officials from Middlesex County – including Edison, Woodbridge, and the Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce – converged on the Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel on April 7 for a presentation by Opportunity NJ (ONJ). Co-chairs Tom Bracken, of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, and Michele Siekerka, of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association, expressed the need for non-traditional allies to come together to reinvent policy making in the Garden State.
The ONJ co-chairs underscored that state legislators, the Governor’s office, the business community and third party interests need to work together on public policy solutions in order to address affordability issues faced in New Jersey. The topic of affordability was particularly germane in view of the recent property tax study released by RealtyTrac.com and presented in an interactive format (Click here for the property tax map). The study found that the average tax bill to New Jersey families is $8,549, while the state maintains the distinction of having the highest tax rate in the nation at 2.31%.
Tax Reform was cited as an essential part of the solution to affordability concerns in the state. Bracken and Siekerka also noted that three other critical platforms included Infrastructure Investment, Workforce Development and Jobs and Regulation Reform.
ONJ is continuing to present before business and community forums throughout New Jersey – contact us to invite ONJ to an event near you.
