Trenton carries the highest property tax rate in Mercer County. This impacts homeowners, renters, and small businesses alike — making it harder for families to stay and harder for the city to attract new investment. A significant part of the problem is structural: as the hub of state government, Trenton hosts a large amount of state-owned, tax-exempt property, including office buildings, parking facilities, and infrastructure that serves residents across New Jersey. While these assets benefit the state as a whole, the fiscal impact falls locally and contributes directly to Trenton's elevated tax rate.

Closing this gap requires a stronger partnership between Trenton and the State of New Jersey — and our new governor has a real opportunity to help build it.

My Plan for Trenton

As your Councilman, I will work with municipal and state leaders on three fronts. First, I will urge Governor Sherrill to support targeted state tax incentives that encourage businesses to locate in Trenton — particularly downtown and near transit. These incentives could help offset the city's tax burden, attract jobs, and grow long-term revenue without shifting additional costs onto residents.

Second, I will advocate for a coordinated approach to activating underutilized state-owned land. Surface parking lots and outdated office space downtown and along the waterfront are real opportunities for housing, retail, and modern workspaces. Responsible redevelopment of these sites would strengthen Trenton's core, support small businesses, and expand the local tax base.

Third, I will work with state and local partners to modernize Trenton's fiscal relationship with New Jersey — pursuing a more flexible framework that includes stronger capital city aid and gives Trenton greater ability to plan and invest in its own future.

Reducing Trenton's tax burden won't happen overnight, but Trenton deserves a fair shot at growth and long-term stability. A stronger partnership with the state is how we get there.