In December of 2021, Governor Murphy and the New Jersey Legislature adopted a new “Payment In Lieu of Taxes” (PILOT) law that ignored our State Constitution. It reduced real estate taxes paid by Atlantic City casinos by anywhere from $22 to $55 million in the year 2022 alone. All other property owners in Atlantic County are paying more to make up the difference.
Last January, we filed a lawsuit to void that new “Payment In Lieu of Taxes” law for being unconstitutional. Judge Michael Blee of the Superior Court of New Jersey agreed. He ruled in our favor last August. However, Governor Murphy appealed that decision. We are waiting for a hearing before either the Appellate Division or the New Jersey Supreme Court.
If he wanted to, Governor Murphy could immediately make Atlantic City casinos pay their “fair share” of real estate taxes by simply withdrawing the state’s appeal, and complying with the August 29 decision of Judge Blee! And the clear language of Article I, Section 8 in our New Jersey State Constitution!
|