Wyckoff Rep. Sounds Alarm On 'Exodus' Of Jobs, People From New Jersey

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Fifth District Rep. Josh Gottheimer is sounding the alarm on what he said is an "exodus" of jobs and people from New Jersey.

In his State of the District address on Feb. 15, the congressman asked the question: "Will we build on our great history, and our strengths, and the values we celebrate, or will we let other states pass us by and steal our jobs and tax dollars?"

"Will we make life more affordable," Gottheimer continued, "or will people and businesses keep packing up to study, work and retire elsewhere?"

New Jersey, according to the U.S. Census, lost more residents (-64,231) to other states over the past year than any other state, except for California, New York and Illinois.

Gottheimer identified the "exodus" of people and jobs to other states as one of his five key points for a "stronger, tougher" Fifth District in his State of the District address.

He said, in the address, that in order to compete with the rest of the country and help people stay in New Jersey, the state needs to make life more affordable for residents, and draw more good-paying jobs and businesses.

Of all 50 states, New Jersey, according to the Tax Foundation, has the highest business income tax in the nation, and ranks third-worst for individual taxes, and sixth-worst for property taxes, the congressman cited. In addition, the tax structure ranks worst in the country for retirees, he said.

"These stats aren’t exactly something you put on a recruitment bumper sticker to attract young families and retirees — or new businesses, and the jobs that come with them," Gottheimer said.

This is why, he said, he has fought to "claw back" tax dollars to New Jersey, to help get property taxes down. Since 2017, the Fifth District is up 357% in grants, resources and federal dollars from Washington. In 2021 alone, he added, this amounted to more than $750 for every Fifth District household.

He said he has also proposed a "Stay in Jersey" tax incentive that would, in effect, move jobs to New Jersey, including opening up satellite offices and tax credits for business that buy "Jersey-made products."

"Think of how great that will be for job growth here in our District and beyond, and how it will increase state and local revenue coming here," he said.

The Wyckoff resident said, in the address, that he believes New Jersey is the greatest state in the nation — "it's not even a close call" — and that he is optimistic about the future.

But the path the District, and state, chooses to take at this moment in history will "impact us for generations to come," he said.