Gov. Phil Murphy Unveils Property Tax Plan In Marlboro Friday

MARLBORO, NJ — On Friday morning, Gov. Phil Murphy will elaborate on his plans to help New Jersey residents keep deducting all their property taxes — and he'll be doing it from the steps of Marlboro Town Hall.

Murphy will discuss a plan to allow New Jerseyeans to pay property taxes as charitable contributions to their towns and local school boards, which they can then deduct from their property tax bill. Property tax deductions are now capped at $10,000 under President Trump's tax reform.

Before he was elected governor, Murphy proposed legislation that would allow taxpayers to make charitable contributions to local governments, which would then be applied to property tax payments.

On Friday morning, Murphy is expected to ask state legislators in Trenton to send him a bill that allows New Jersey residents to do this.

Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick, a Republican, told the Associated Press he likes Murphy's idea.

"If it's as simple as I understand ... I don't see any downside," he said, but added: "If we come up with a system to recreate the property tax deduction, I don't think the federal government is going to be all that happy."

Marlboro Mayor Jon Hornik, a Democrat, said he has long supported the idea, and the Marlboro Town Council unanimously passed a resolution to that effect in January. Hornik is one of the few Democratic elected officials in traditionally Republican Monmouth County.

“We take great pains as elected local officials to maintain Marlboro Township’s status as an affordable Monmouth County community,” said Mayor Hornik. “Let us not forget that New Jerseyans already send more tax dollars to Washington D.C. than we get back.”

Murphy will speak at 10 a.m. at Marlboro Town Hall, 1979 Township Drive, Marlboro NJ 07746.

Photo: Phil Murphy for Governor