Living here in NJ (as you might also, Frenchtown Dan) I hear this a lot: “people are leaving NJ because of the high taxes.” I have looked for the statistics to support this assertion, because I’d love to be able to use it in conversations.
Unfortunately, I haven’t found any support for it. NJ has the third highest taxes in the nation *overall*, if you add in our high Federal Income Tax burden. That won’t change if people move out.
The last study I found (2007, http://blog.nj.com/statattack/2007/10/are_being_taxed_out_o.html) said that NJ’s taxes are 11.6%, which is the 10th highest in the nation, not the 1st.
I’ve never read any statistics about how many New Jerseans have moved out of state either, I’m not even sure how it could be calculated. But, I do know of quite a few, especially retired folks. And I hear about it all the time on the radio.
I’m pretty certain when I retire in a few years, I won’t be a Jersey resident.
Are you taking into account ALL of the taxes we pay?