JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ – Former Jackson Township Councilman Alex Sauickie promised he would go to Trenton to battle the damages caused by Democrats in the Garden State, but instead has been focusing on low-hanging agricultural and farm bills in the footsteps of his predecessor Ronald Dancer.
Dancer passed away this year and Sauickie managed to wiggle himself into Dancer’s shoes, or in this case, his rubber farm boots.
Instead of tackling gas taxes, bail reform, high energy prices, sanctuary state status, COVID-19 lockdown fall out and Governor Phil Murphy’s dictatorial reign over the Garden State, Sauickie played it safe in his first month in the state assembly pushing a farm preservation bill.
He is doing exactly what Dancer did. He’s playing it safe instead of getting into the fight against the liberal policies of New Jersey’s Democrat leadership.
Instead of lowering taxes, his first bill in Trenton is one that will raise taxes.
Assemblyman Alex Sauickie’s legislation updating the appraisal process for determining the value of farmland acquired for preservation was cleared by an Assembly committee on Monday.
“From limiting urban sprawl to providing locally grown produce, preserved farmland benefits communities in so many ways. In order to encourage farmers to participate in the preservation program, New Jersey needs to ensure that farmers are getting a fair deal and purchase offers reflect the true value of their land,” Sauickie (R-Ocean) said.
Sauickie’s bill (A4729) creates a new appraisal formula that considers the value of farmland in nearby towns and counties, the importance of preserving farmland in the area, and other relevant factors. The State Agriculture Development Committee would be required to use whatever appraisal process resulted in the higher value as the basis for negotiations with the landowner.
Nearly a third of New Jersey’s existing farmland already falls under the Farmlands Preservation Program, about 250,000 acres.