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"Our economy is just beginning to recover," said DeCroce, R-Morris, Passaic. "Tax collections took a precipitous drop after 9-11. Businesses and entrepreneurs saw their earnings evaporate. Only now is our revenue stream regaining strength.

"Raising income taxes at this time will only stunt economic growth," DeCroce added, "and the plan being floated by Democrats and some organizations is a fraud because it will not result in meaningful property tax reform."

The Republican leader's comments came on the heels of a poll by a group calling itself the Fairness Alliance that supposedly shows widespread popular support for what has been called a "millionaires' tax," DeCroce said the term is a misnomer because the tax could adversely impact families with joint incomes as low as $200,000 or $300,000 a year, depending on the version of the plan being advanced on any given day.

"Try telling parents who are working professionals, trying to raise children, pay a mortgage and deal with ever-rising property taxes that they are `millionaires' and should pay 7-to-10 percent more in income taxes because their joint earnings are $200,000 or $300,000. I think a lot of families in places like Bergen County would take strong exception to the notion." DeCroce has called for a special session of the Legislature to address the issue of property tax reform. Although more than enough members of both political parties are sponsoring a legislative initiative that would authorize such a session, Democratic leaders in the Assembly have turned a deaf ear to bipartisan pleas for action.

"The taxpayers demand, and are entitled to, an enduring solution to rising property taxes," the Republican Leader said. "In the short-term, we can provide additional property tax relief, I am confident that a judicious and comprehensive review of Governor McGreevey's proposed budget can identify savings that could be used to increase state aid for schools trying to cope with rising enrollments.

"The budget review process began in earnest today as the state Treasurer talked about the growth in tax revenue and the non-partisan Office of Legislative Services reported the surplus could rise by $300 million over the next 15 months, The Republican members of the Assembly Budget Committee are prepared to take a hard look at the revenue projections and the budget. We believe we can do better without raising income taxes. It would be easier if the Democrats express an interest in looking at ways to save money instead of spending it.",

DeCroce said poll by McLaughlin & Associates conducted for Assembly Republicans in December found a starkly different public attitude regarding a "millionaires' tax" than that in the Fairness Alliance's survey. A total of 400 likely voters were surveyed statewide between December 2 and 3, 2003 and public opinion on the issue was split - 46 percent in favor and 47 percent in opposition - and that, DeCroce emphasized, was on the question of a true millionaires' tax.

Voters were asked the following: On the issue of raising taxes on millionaires, which one of the following statements comes closest to you own personal opinion? Some people say we need to raise taxes on millionaires and use the money to lower property taxes on middle and low income families. They say millionaires are wealthy and can afford to pay more In state taxes. Other people say New Jersey taxes are already too high and that raising taxes on millionaires is just another excuse for the politicians to raise taxes. They say this increase in taxes will actually take money out of the pockets of middle class and suburban taxpayers and in the end, not just millionaires will have their taxes go up.

Forty-seven percent said it was an excuse to raise taxes. Only Democratic respondents favored raising taxes, by a 57%-34% margin. Republican respondents, by a 59%-35% margin, said it would be an excuse to raise taxes. A majority of independents agreed with Republicans by a 50%-43% margin.

"Taxpayers just aren't buying it," DeCroce said. "They think it's a shell game. Most are extremely skeptical of claims that raising one tax will lead to lower property taxes. They believe that, in the end, they will get stuck with higher income taxes and higher property taxes. We need to regain the public's trust by debating means to achieve true property tax reform, and then we must follow through. But this talk of a `millionaires' tax is not the way to go."

DeCroce also called on Governor McGreevey to clarify where he stands on this issue. He noted the governor has changed his statements over time from opposing any tax increases, to opposing any increase in the sales or income tax, to opposing any increase in the sales or income tax "to balance the budget."

"It's time for the governor to level with the taxpayers," the Republican Leader said. "Is this the property tax plan that the governor has been promising for seven years? Is the governor so afraid of this plan that he's hiding behind Jon Shure to float it and see how the public responds? "If the governor is prepared to support any increase in the income tax for any purpose then it is time for him to finally say what he means. If he isn't going to sign any income tax hike, then let's pop this trial balloon and get down to the real issue of property tax reform."