a new proposal called StayNJ would slash property taxes for senior citizens in the state the bill had a hearing today in the State Assembly but one big hurdle for the bill is Governor Murphy who signaled that he wasn't on board with the initial plan senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan reports from Trenton where some residents are pleading for property tax relief the issue with me are my taxes I mean my taxes are more than my mortgage Advocates turned out in an assembly Committee hearing to talk about cutting property taxes Jersey leads the nation with an average ninety five hundred dollar tax bill per year a real burden on seniors struggling to get by on fixed incomes that's what assembly speaker Craig Coughlin says prompted him to propose stay New Jersey a plan to cut property taxes in half for New Jersey seniors they're scared that they'll have to move from their grandchildren their children their friends their doctors the places that they've called home when it comes to actually leaving a large majority 83 percent say they will likely do so aarp's Evelyn Liebman told the committee a survey last year shows seniors can't afford to remain here the organization supports state New Jersey it is a bold approach to addressing the property tax burden for older New Jersey residents and it will make a real difference in people's lives and make New Jersey a better place to grow up and Grow Old State New Jersey would give seniors 65 and older a 50 credit on property tax bills for their main residents capped at ten thousand dollars and with no income limit on eligibility payments would go straight to Municipal Tax Collectors beginning January of 2025. the state budget would set aside 300 million in 2023 and again in 2024 to help Finance what could become a billion dollar or more annual expenditure it does not include renters and that concerns Advocates and lawmakers and the exclusion of renters but I think that will get to that it's a huge concern I mean over half of Black and Hispanic seniors are renters they would be left entirely out of this proposal The Proposal got Swift support from Senate President Nick's Scutari and many other Democrats it's campaign candy in a legislative election year but New Jersey's number one Democrat balked Governor Murphy has opposed A New Jersey in part because it's too expensive and has no income limits so Coughlin today amended his bill stay New Jersey staged the same but he would expand the senior freeze property tax aid program including upgrades Governor Murphy has desired like a higher income cap and shorter residency requirement seniors would get a rebate choice Coughlin said benefits to seniors would be half of the property tax bill up to a ten thousand dollars or the senior freeze plus anchor whichever one is higher Murphy Chief of Staff George Helmy'’s reaction while we have serious challenges with the current version of the bill we share the goal of streamlining the process and delivering even more tax relief to our seniors Republicans who have their own property tax break proposal consider stay New Jersey a politically motivated fix this is a bad policy that's designed for two election Cycles Democrats get to say they passed the bill this year and that will be implemented during the gubernatorial cycle two years from now we'll stay New Jersey stay the course both sides say they're willing to discuss some tweaks as they hammer out a new budget at the State House in Trenton I'm Brenda Flanagan NJ Spotlight news back to you Raven thanks Brenda