February 10, 2017 Update: We’re disappointed to advise that the Governor vetoed this compromise legislation. We do thank the the countless stakeholders, including impacted businesses, who joined us in supporting this legislation. While these 5 zones are expired, 32 more are still in effect and the next expiration is in 2019. We will continue to work with the Mayors in UEZ communities to enhance the positive economic impacts of UEZs.
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If you have not done so already, click here to ask the Governor to sign the UEZ compromise into law.
On December 20, the State Senate approved A-4189/S-2670, compromise legislation that will extend, for two years, Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) authorization in municipalities where the program is scheduled to sunset at the end of this year. (Those municipalities are Bridgeton, Camden, Newark, Plainfield and Trenton.) Previously, the NJ General Assembly approved the bill by a vote of 56-15.
The bill now heads to the Governor for his consideration. Earlier this year, Governor Christie conditionally voted A-2576/S-1080, which would have extended UEZ designation for participating municipalities for another 10 years. With his conditional veto, the Governor asked instead that the Legislature direct the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs to conduct a study of the UEZ program “… which shall include, without limitation, an assessment of whether an alternative, location-based program to assist fiscally distressed municipalities is appropriate, and, if so, recommendations for the parameters of such a program …”
Respecting the Governor’s desire for a comprehensive analysis of the program, A-4189/S-2670 has been introduced as a compromise. The new legislation accepts the Governor’s recommendation regarding a DCA study of the program and research into alternatives. However, the bill provides a two year extension to the five UEZs that are set to expire at the end of this year.
The UEZ Program – first created in 1983 – offers incentives to participating businesses, designed to encourage business growth and stimulate local economies. Approximately 6,800 certified UEZ businesses participate and benefit from the advantages of the UEZ program statewide. These include a number of tax and financial incentives, including tax credits to hire local workers. The program authorizes qualifying retail businesses in the UEZs to charge and collect the State’s sales and use tax at one-half of the normal rate.
Those incentives allow businesses to attract customers to, and create employment opportunities in, economically distressed municipalities. UEZ designation is a vital tool in the tool kit of local leaders, working to bring their communities back from decades of decline, caused by housing and transportation policy decisions over which they had no control.
Absent action on these bills, businesses in five municipalities will lose UEZ benefits at the year’s end.
Contacts: Michael F. Cerra, Asst. Executive Director, 609-695-3481, x120, mcerra@njslom.org
Jon Moran, Sr. Legislative Analyst, 609-695-3481 x121, jmoran@njslom.org