A New Jersey lawmaker wants to extend property tax relief to all veterans in the state, regardless as to whether they served in combat or not.  

President Obama Address Troops At Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst In New Jersey
President Obama Address Troops At Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst In New Jersey (Mark Makela, Getty Images)
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Assemblyman Bob Andrzejczak (D-Cape May Court House) has introduced a resolution to put a question on the ballot in the next general election asking voters to amend the state constitution to extend property tax benefits to veterans who did not serve in wartime.

"Hopefully, they (voters) will support the rest of our troops like they do our combat troops. They didn't know whether they would be deployed or not. They didn't know whether they would have to fight in a war or not. But the fact is, they were willing to," Andrzejczak said.

As it stands now in New Jersey, qualified veterans who served during time of war, or a surviving spouse, may be eligible for local property tax deductions of $250 per year.   Those veterans with a service-connected disability are also eligible for the property tax deduction.

Andrzejczak said limiting the benefits to veterans who served in time of war implies that certain veterans in New Jersey are more deserving of our help than others.

"The fact that the moment (being called to combat) never came for these soldiers should not be held against them," Andrzejczak said.

The assemblyman, a disabled veteran who served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army, said New Jersey's property taxes can be especially taxing on the state's veteran population, whose unemployment rate exceeds the national average.

If the Legislature passed the resolution and is signed by Gov. Chris Christie, it would be placed on the ballot for the general election in November 2016.

 

 

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