NJ Towns Seeking Greater Share of Energy Taxes

A group representing New Jersey's municipalities is renewing its push for a greater share of energy taxes collected from utilities.

The state's League of Municipalities on Tuesday will press the state to return more of the money that's intended as property tax relief. Cities and towns receive the payments in exchange for having energy and utility lines and plants in the communities.

League spokesman Bill Dressel says the state has been diverting increasing portions of the towns' revenue to balance the budget. Hundreds of millions of dollars is at stake statewide.

Dressel says municipalities need the cash because some local costs are rising by more than 2 percent a year, the maximum property tax increase allowed by law.

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