CALL TO ACTION!
The Senate Bill S3158 (Gopal), along with a committee substitute for language, is ON THE SCHEDULE to be heard by The Senate Community & Urban Affairs Committee this Monday, May 13, 2019! But we still need your help!
We need each of you to call or email the Senators who are on this committee to ask for their support. Here is a sample of what you should say/write. Please “tweak” the wording so it’s in your own words:
From OWNERS:
Dear Senator, As a shore home rental owner for several years I personally handle all my tenants, meet them, hand them the key and service the place after they use it. Many of my tenants are legacy tenants that have rented from me for years. My tenants are middle class people who look forward to spending a week down at our beautiful shore every year with their family. The Airbnb tax, which was never intended for personal rental, needs to be removed so that people can continue to do personal bookings without having to pay the added tax. Please support S3158 before you on Monday in committee, so that we can continue to keep a vacation at the New Jersey shore affordable for our people. Thank you.
From RENTERS:
Dear Senator, As a regular shore home renter I always rent directly from the owner. Often renting the same home from the same owner year after year. We are a middle class family who looks forward to spending a week down at our beautiful shore every year. The Airbnb tax, which was never intended for personal rental, needs to be removed so that people like me can continue to do personal bookings without having to pay the added tax. Please support S3158 before you on Monday in committee, so that we can continue to keep a vacation at the New Jersey shore affordable for our people. Thank you.
Here is who to contact:
Community & Urban Affairs Committee Members
Troy Singleton (Chair) 856-234-2790 SenSingleton@njleg.org Dist.7 Beverly, Bordentown City, Bordentown Township, Burlington City, Burlington Township, Cinnaminson, Delanco, Delran, Edgewater Park, Fieldsboro, Florence, Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Palmyra, Riverside, Riverton, Willingboro
Ronald Rice (V.Chair) 973-371-5665 SenRice@njleg.org Dist. 28 Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Irvington, Newark (part), Nutley
Chris Connors 609-693-6700 SenConnors@njleg.org Dist.9 Galloway, Port Republic Bass River, Tabernacle, Washington, Barnegat, Barnegat Light, Beach Haven, Beachwood, Berkeley, Eagleswood, Harvey Cedars, Lacey, Little Egg Harbor, Long Beach, Ocean Gate, Ocean Township, Pine Beach, Seaside Park, Ship Bottom, South Toms River, Stafford, Surf City, Tuckerton
Declan O’Scanlon 732-444-1838 SenOscanlon@njleg.org Dist.13 Aberdeen, Atlantic Highlands, Fair Haven, Hazlet, Highlands, Holmdel, Keansburg, Keyport, Little Silver, Marlboro, Middletown, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Rumson, Sea Bright, Union Beach
Brian Stack 201-721-5263 SenStack@njleg.org Dist.33 Hoboken, Jersey City (part), Union City, Weehawken
PLEASE take 10 minutes out of your day and contact these legislators! YOUR calls and emails are helping us in Trenton!
PLEASE stay tuned to our website, Facebook Page and check your email. When we get out of this Committee on Monday we still have a few more steps to make. We are hopeful they will happen fast and look for your continued support to make this happen for you before the summer season begins!
For those who may be confused as to why this is a different bill # and sponsor than we had been promoting previously, it is just a technical formality. If you look up S3158 currently that will NOT be the same language that ultimately comes out of the committee on Monday. When the language was revised this spring they used S3158 as the base because it required the least amount of change to its wording in order to get language that leadership felt wouldn’t run afoul of any state or federal laws. So when they say “committee substitute” that just means they are using the existing bill but once in the committee they will combine it with other bills and/or bring in new language altogether.
Thank you for all your work and support. There are many other points to make:
1. They put us in an unfair competitive advantage with realtors.
2. In our case the entire tax is coming out of OUR pocket, not the renters since they have a choice and can go to a realtor. With 2 homes, the tax comes to around 8k year if we chose to continue renting on our home. Our other choice was to list it with a realtor which we did for an amount less than the 11.625%. So less than 8k, but none the less, we as homeowners lose. So in turn the state does not gain a tax on those rentals. The big winner here? The realtor!!
3. We also listed with vrbo at a cost to us of $500 a year, 3% credit card fee to us and a much higher cost to the renter since vrbo adds on service fees from 9-15% for them to pay. We lose again in this scenario. Yes the state will get some tax money BUT the renter will spend less since the vacation costs so much more so the businesses at the beach lose out, thus less revenues to them, less tax to the state. So the tax the state collects in this instance is a wash.
No one wins and there are many losers with this tax.