Today, Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) gathered mayors from Warren and Sussex Counties for a Mayors Summit focused on clawing back their tax dollars to Fifth District towns to improve our return on investment and save taxpayers dollars. The Summit also discussed making infrastructure investments, improving rural broadband connectivity, and the disastrous impact that the Tax Hike Bill will have on New Jersey towns and steps we can take to blunt the impact as Moocher States steal our tax dollars.

In attendance were Hackettstown Mayor Maria DiGiovanni, Andover Borough Mayor John Morgan, Andover Township Mayor Janis McGovern, Allamuchy Mayor Keith DeTombeur, Mansfield Township Mayor Joseph Watters, Washington Borough Mayor Dave Higgins, Hope Mayor Timothy McDonough, Newton Mayor Wayne Levante, Independence Mayor Robert Giordano, Allamuchy Deputy Mayor Elliott Koppel, Hackettstown Councilman Matt Engelau, Hackettstown Councilman Jerry DiMaio, Hackettstown Councilman James Lambo, and Hackettstown Councilman Scott Sheldon.

“North Jersey mayors are working hard to save their residents property tax dollars to fix their roads and bridges and help their schools and first responders get what they need,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “I’m proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Fifth District’s bipartisan mayors to do just that. We are paying far too much in federal taxes and the Tax Hike Bill is only going make that worse — eliminating our State and Local Tax deductions, increasing our taxes and lowering our property values. My District pays some of the highest federal taxes in the nation, and historically has only gotten back 33 cents on the dollar for what is sent to Washington. That’s compared to Mississippi which gets $4.38. For the dollars that we already sent to Washington, we need to claw back as much as possible and boost our return on our investment by fighting for federal grants. We’ve already seen record successes this year to support our cops, firefighters, and towns. Today’s about fighting for North Jersey. I’m leaving no stone unturned and hope that by sharing these best practices, our mayors can build on this success and save more money for their towns and taxpayers. There is nothing partisan about this; it’s just good for Jersey.”

Hackettstown Mayor Maria DiGiovanni said, “The Mayors Summit went very well. Every councilman and Mayor was impressed. It’s nice to have someone be your advocate. In Hackettstown, we are looking to bring back federal tax dollars for our police department and department of public works. The Congressman’s office is wonderful to work with and hugely supportive.”

Below (left to right): Andover Township Mayor Janis McGovern, Andover Borough Mayor John Morgan, Independence Mayor Robert Giordano, Hackettstown Councilman Jerry DiMaio, Hackettstown Councilman James Lambo, Hope Mayor Timothy McDonough, Hackettstown Mayor Maria DiGiovanni, Hackettstown Councilman Scott Sheldon, Newton Mayor Wayne Levante, Mansfield Township Mayor Joseph Watters, Washington Borough Mayor Dave Higgins, Allamuchy Mayor Keith DeTombeur, Hackettstown Councilman Matt Engelau, Allamuchy Deputy Mayor Elliott Koppel.

Below: Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) and mayors work on helping towns and families claw back federal tax dollars.