[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 206 (Thursday, December 19, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1637-E1638]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            12 DAYS OF SALT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MIKIE SHERRILL

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 19, 2019

  Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, to conclude my earlier remarks on the 12 
Days of SALT, I rise to include in the Record the testimonials of 
mayors from New Jersey's 11th District attesting to the harm that the 
SALT cap has had on their communities.
  On this ninth day of SALT, a bipartisan group of mayors in my 
district have shared with me, statements about how SALT is harming our 
residents in New Jersey's 11th Congressional District. Today, I'd like 
to share their words:
  Mayor Molly Whilesmith of Sparta said:

       ``The exodus from New Jersey is nothing new. Our state and 
     local property taxes have been amongst the highest in the 
     nation for decades. New Jersey Snowbirds flocked South upon 
     retirement. The current trend is to sell the house and pack 
     the moving truck right after the youngest child graduates 
     from high school. The cap makes NJ much less attractive for 
     the average hardworking New Jersey Family.''

  Mayor Keith Kazmark of Woodland Park:

       ``The full SALT deduction must be reinstated for the 
     benefit of New Jersey middle class families. Folks in our 
     area were hardest hit by this change in the tax code. 51% of 
     Woodland Park taxpayers pay more than $10,000 in local 
     property taxes and that does not include their state taxes. 
     That's over 1,800 residential property owners in our town.''

  Mayor Bruce Harris of Chatham Borough said:

       ``The story for Chatham Borough is pretty simple. The 
     average property tax bill is about $14,100, so 40% is no 
     longer deductible. Obviously, that impacts people's pockets; 
     it also impacts housing values. NJ is a payer state--it sends 
     much more to the federal government than it receives back.''

  According to Mayor Jeff Grayzel of Morris Township:

       ``We all teach our children to play fair, because fairness 
     in one of the key elements that makes our democracy the great 
     thing it is. However, the cap on SALT deductions is simply 
     unfair and penalizes the residents of New Jersey. Let's be 
     fair to all and drop this penalty on New Jerseyans.''

  Mayor John Kelley, Borough of Caldwell:

       ``Caldwell taxpayers are directly impacted and blindsided 
     by the limits put on SALT deductions. Caldwell families 
     manage their finances and tax liability closely and for many 
     years have relied upon their state income taxes and Caldwell 
     property taxes to reduce their federal income tax through 
     itemized deductions. The impact of the limits on SALT 
     deductions are felt throughout our community.''

  Mayor Michael Soriano, Parsippany:

       ``Parsippany is a community similar to many across the 
     country, but unlike towns in other states, Congress decided 
     to target our residents with a tax bill that limits their 
     ability to deduct state and local taxes. Homeowners in 
     Parsippany shouldn't have to pay more in federal tax dollars 
     when we know the money isn't coming back to fund our schools 
     or repair our roads.''

  Our mayors are on the ground in our communities and know that the 
SALT deduction

[[Page E1638]]

cap is harmful to our residents. This isn't a Republican or a 
Democratic issue in our state. It's time for Congress to stop punishing 
our municipalities and our taxpayers and reinstate the full SALT 
deduction.