Creating a Movement for Reform in New Jersey
There are 1,600 different government entities in New Jersey, including 616 school districts and 600 towns--all this for the fourth smallest state in the country. Is it any wonder, then, that there is such little government accountability and transparency in this inevitable mess of paperwork?
Enter the New Jersey Taxpayers Association, a statewide group that plans to clear the way for pro-taxpayer reform in the third-highest taxed state in the country.
Originally called the Silver Brigade, the group's founding mission was to raise awareness among senior citizens about property tax reform issues. The association's president, Jerry Cantrell, who is not a senior himself, hopes that the group's new name will attract a broader audience. After all, New Jersey seniors are not alone in their wish to see a more accountable state government.
The NJTA has already accrued an impressive count of accomplishments, its most notable being full communication of their pro-taxpayer platform to the elected officials of several counties, including Trenton. Cantrell says that, unlike all other interest groups, taxpayers don't have any representation in their state legislatures. The NJTA plans to elect officials who are personally accountable to their constituents in order to achieve sound fiscal management of governmental institutions, organizations and precious tax dollars.
Currently, the NJTA is involved with the Candidate's Report Card Initiative. This initiative will evaluate various New Jersey politicians and candidates on categories orientated on tax reform, and assign them each a grade A-F. The ratings will be based on voting records, party positions and a questionnaire. Cantrell hopes that this initiative will provide "objective, unbiased information," and lead to greater government transparency.
Cantrell states that the core obstacle facing the association is a general sense of apathy within the state. He says that New Jersey taxpayers are frustrated and depressed about the state of their legislature.
"The biggest challenge of the NJTA is to not only motivate voters and taxpayers, but to demonstrate that a cohesive movement for reform is possible," Cantrell said.
Cantrell says that if people have the right information, a unified call for reform will take shape.
The NTJA is made up of volunteers, not professional lobbyists, and according to Cantrell, it will be important to develop a network with other like-minded individuals and groups in the state so each can have as many resources for gathering credible information as possible.
Today, New Jersey state candidates are moving along a path to sell off government assets and buy their ways out of debt. There is no recognition of the problem from such politicians, and no political courage for change from the ones who do recognize it. The NJTA, however, has big plans to change this.
