Seeking a more business-friendly NJ in 2015

Now that Christmas has come and gone and we've only got a couple of days left in 2014, New Jersey businesses are looking forward to a bright New Year, in a more business-friendly environment.

"What we are hoping is that lawmakers, when they say they want to help create a more positive business climate in the state, send some very clear messages along the lines of no new surprise taxes and fees, and a willingness to provide more tax credits," said Michele Siekerka, the president of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association.

Siekerka said many businesses are feeling a bit uncertain about 2015, which inhibits spending and new hiring.

"There are many areas where businesses are looking for relief," she said. "We've heard a lot about estate and inheritance tax and we know that is a tremendous opportunity for our policymakers to go in an area that would give some relief to business. So perhaps some indication that they're going to look at that during what will be a tough budget cycle, to perhaps offset some areas where they can't give relief right now, that would be important."

Siekerka also said it's also important for the business community to not have any surprises.

"If our policymakers can be clear with us upfront that this is what we're looking at, and then not in the eleventh hour come back and suddenly throw a millionaires tax or something that we have to be reactive against, that would be helpful," she said. "What business finds very challenging is at any moment in time they have their hand on their wallet, they're ready to spend, but they're only going to spend when they feel that they have some certainty."

She said NJBIA, in addition to working on a package of proposed tax credits, is also focusing on "streamlining red tape, and a lot of that has to do with small fees that add up and those fees generate from a lack of efficiencies sometimes in government."

The bottom line, Siekerka said, is that if company bosses feel confident that lawmakers really are working to lower taxes and improve the business climate in the state, "we're going to see increases in sales, profits and jobs, that's exactly what our businesses told us."