Democratic strategist David Axelrod made a point on Tuesday evening television about New Jersey’s stunning election results that is being overlooked.
How could Republican Jack Ciatterelli be running even with Democratic incumbent Phil Murphy for governor of one of the most Democratic states in the country? Axelrod was asked.
One reason was that New Jersey was having a “property tax revolt,” Axelrod said.
A little digging shows that Axelrod was right. Property taxes were a major theme in Ciaterelli’s campaign, and he called out the issue again in brief comments he made Tuesday evening. Polling backs it up. Property taxes were second only to COVID as the most important issue facing the state, New Jersey voters said, according to an August Monmouth poll.
Notably, the poll also says property taxes were far more important to New Jersey voters than other taxes, which are also high there. Here’s how the issues ranked in importance, according to the poll: (41%), taxes – especially property taxes (32%), along with income (9%), sales (7%), and other (4%) taxes – and the economy and cost of living (15%) along with jobs (7%).
Cittarelli ended up losing but by less than one percent, but that stunned political pundits, and property taxes were a big reason why.
Illinois and New Jersey consistently rank neck-and-neck for the highest property tax rates in the nation.
Credit Axelrod for understanding one message New Jersey voters were sending about property taxes and voting. When will Illinois voters send as strong a message?
Tomorrow, we will have a detailed column on the latest in Illinois’ property tax burden.
Hopefully, all media will get the message, in Illinois, too.
Ted joined Tom Miller of WJPF to talk about Illinois’ highest-in-the-nation property taxes, why lawmakers don’t want to touch the tax’s cost drivers, just how much Illinoisans’ tax burden has grown over the decades, why Gov. Pritzker failed to meet his promise to reform property taxes, and more.
Ted joined Dan and Amy to talk about the free speech controversy brewing in Wilmette due to the city’s refusal to fly a religious freedom flag, the city’s left-wing excesses and the growing culture war, the latest money spent on the illegal immigrant crisis, and more.
Weekly crime statistics from the Chicago Police Department: Report through 4/14/2024.
“When will Illinois voters send as strong a message as New Jersey voters sent?” Answer: Never. Illinois has become a one party state, democratic. How many years have I voted in a Cook County election only to find only a democratic candidate, no other opposing. There hasn’t been a republican Chicago mayor since 1931. Chicago is deterministic for the rest of the state. Chicago and surrounding suburbs have turned more hostile towards the GOP and conservatives over the years. Best thing to do is let Illinois spend and tax itself to financial death. Same for NJ. The democrat’s long-term ace… Read more »
I left for Florida in June. Screw Illinois
Property values tell a lot about the effects of local taxing districts obscenely overspending the means of their communities. Compare the historical EAV of Woodstock CUSD 200 taxing district to Case Shiller over this time period. One other relevant metric: property tax rates in Woodstock Il compared to the rest of America (~1%) and Chicago ( under 2% in most of Chicago) vs Woodstock p-tax rate history: A home in Woodstock paid 3.6% property tax rates in 2020. In 2019: 3.7%, 2018 3.7%, 2017 3.9%, 2016 3.9%, 2015 4.5%, 2014 4.6%, 2013 4.3%, 2012 3.8%, 2011 3.3%, 2010 2.9%, 2009… Read more »
From what I read Ciatterelli managed to avoid taking a stand on pension reform?
This is just to DAM funny for real life in a word HELL NO
It won’t end until Cook County is annexed by Indiana.
Or slides into Lake Michigan
We do not want Crook County.
Here’s one more. My question is. Why is it that the costs of services is determined by the value of your home? In most neighborhoods homes values are different so everyone pays according to value but everyone gets the exact same services but at a different price. Last I checked there is no net worth tax in Illinois but the largest asset for many is their home which figures into your net worth.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/assessments-property-taxes-could-next-112041014.html
Applying that logic to Medicare premiums I question why everyone gets the same coverage, but not everyone pays the same premium. They apply something called IRMA which penalizes retirees who saved, invested well, and whose income is higher than those who did not.
By that logic when citizens go shopping the amount they pay for goods and services should be on a sliding scale. Which, of course, would not be fair – so why is it fair in property taxes and Medicare premiums?
How is this possible!? NJ not only has a progressive state income tax, but a millionaire’s bracket and rates in the top tax brackets that are much higher than the Fair Tax. I was told the flat tax was the source of all our problems.
And NJ property taxes are even bad for everyone if they repeal to federal deduction cap. Why should someone in Cheyenne be subsidizing high property tax deductions happening in Newark?
Question should be. When will voters realize that their properties are only ATM machines (with no limit) to the taxing bodies regardless of value? Authorities have not yet figured out how to get money directly from our bank accounts so properties will remain ATM machines.
Didn’t realize 70% of the moves in NJ are out of the state.
NJ and IL are also both the top exporters of college-bound students in the country.