The state’s top three Democratic leaders announced the appointments of six individuals to a newly established task force assigned with offering recommendations for implementing the new StayNJ property tax relief program.

On Dec. 4, Gov. Phil Murphy, Senate President Nick Scutari, D-22nd District, and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-19th District, said the six-member group will include:

• Deputy State Treasurer Aaron Binder – state treasurer’s designee
• Christopher Wheeler, chief data officer, N.J. Department of Community Affairs – DCA commissioner’s designee
• Dennis Zeveloff, chief policy advisor, Office of the Governor – governor’s appointee
• Jessica Cohen, former director of public policy for the Senate president – senate president’s recommendation
• John McCormac, Woodbridge mayor and former state treasurer – Assembly speaker’s recommendation
• Adrian Mapp, Plainfield mayor – joint appointee recommended by Senate president and Assembly speaker

The governor also announced that former Director of the State’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) David Ridolfino will serve as the task force’s executive director and will be assisted by staff from the Treasury Department.

StayNJ was signed into law following an agreement reached during the home stretch of the budget process earlier this year. The program will be phased in over the next few years with full implementation by January 2026. Some toplines include a 50% property tax credit, capped at $6,500, with an income threshold of $500,000 a year for residents age 65 and older, as well as immediate property tax relief under ANCHOR with senior homeowners and renters getting a $250 per year boost.

When fully implemented, the total cost is projected at around $1.3 billion. The first direct credits on property tax bills are expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2026. The plan also includes a “lock box” to set aside nearly half of the money needed to fund the program by 2026, with allocations of $100 million in year one, $200 million in year two, and $300 million in year three.

The legislation also called for the creation of this task force. The group will review all of the state’s existing property tax relief programs and present a report to the governor and Legislature by no later than May 30, 2024, that contains recommendations on how to restructure and consolidate the various programs into one streamlined tax relief program for seniors through a singular application to be implemented on Jan. 1, 2026.

“Cumulatively, the members of this task force bring a wealth of public policy experience to the table, particularly when it comes to the impact property taxes have on our local communities,” said Murphy in a press release announcing the task force appointments. “I have no doubt they will serve the state and our residents well as we work together to make New Jersey a more affordable place to not only raise a family, but to age in place surrounded by our loved ones.”

“The work of task force will help ensure the effective implementation of the Stay NJ program that will reduce property taxes for most senior citizens by 50% and the integration of the other tax relief programs will help make the lives of homeowners and renters more affordable,” said Scutari.

“Stay NJ will be transformative for all families planning for the future, with historic property tax relief for seniors,” said Coughlin. “We need to ensure this program launches smoothly with a seamless application process and benefit distribution.”

‘Another bureaucratic band aid’

Meanwhile, Republicans responded to the announcement with skepticism and questions about the task force and the program, in general.

“The idea of adding another task force to address property taxes filled with the same recycled ideas and people that got our state into this mess is frustrating,” Senate Republican Leader Anthony Bucco, R-25th District, said in a statement. “Senate Republicans have a long history of proposing tax relief for all New Jerseyans and we will continue to push for the reforms necessary to provide that relief to our residents. This announcement is simply another bureaucratic band aid on the long-standing wound of Governor Murphy and Trenton Democrats’ inefficient and ineffective policy agenda that leaves taxpayers struggling to make ends meet.”

In a statement from the Assembly Republicans, Assemblyman Brian Bergen, R-25th District, described the program as poorly structured and unlikely to happen and questioned the implementation timeline – pointing to the appointments coming months later than they were supposed to – resulting in a missed progress report.

“Democrats set these deadlines and they miss them all the time. Just like the budget every year, committees are voting on legislation that isn’t finished yet,” said Bergen. “Unemployment and ANCHOR checks are months late, and it takes months for people on disability and family leave to get their benefits while they aren’t receiving a paycheck. This is what governing looks like in New Jersey under Democrats, and it’s unacceptable.”

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 4:32 p.m. ET Dec. 5, 2023, to include Republican responses.