Right Message, Wrong Audience

New Jersey has a tradition of having lots, and lots of local government. The 566 municipalities, 21 counties and 591 school districts jammed into the America's fourth-smallest state create a richness of targets for taxpayers to blame for the nation's heaviest state-local tax burden. Unfortunately, state residents have a tough time picking the appropriate responsible party when it comes to their property tax bill.

In 2010, 53% of the average New Jersey property tax bill went to schools taxes, while municipal taxes took in 29% and county taxes comprised 18%. However, just one percent of New Jerseyans said they would contact their local school district with a general complaint about property taxes, according to a recent Monmouth University/New Jersey Press Media poll. The entity with the most control over local property taxes is the last place residents think to complain about them, tied with "Other".

Finishing ahead of school districts were:

Town/Town Council - 27%
Mayor - 17%
Governor - 11%
State Legislator - 10%
Congressman - 2%

And this is all in a state with the fifth-highest percentage of adults holding at least a bachelor's degree. The myriad of taxing entities and divided responsibilities has helped create a confused citizenry. That, combined with school elections held in April, has kept voter turnout in those elections around 15%.

As taxpayers become more aware of the harm inflicted by unsustainable pension plans, inflexible unions, and promises to future generations that cannot be kept, citizens are rightfully demanding that elected leadership restore balance to the system.

Taking those demands to the wrong audience, especially when the right audience is the one most affected by an individual vote, allows chummy political relationships to continue far away from the consciousness of taxpayers.

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