Gov. Phil Murphy acknowledged Thursday implementing his ambitious progressive agenda for the state might take some time.“We simply can’t release decades of built up pressure in one day or perhaps even in one year,” Murphy told the gathering at the winter summit for the New Jersey Conference of Mayors in Trenton.



NJCM is made up of over 60 mayors across the state from different regions and political parties. The organization seeks to create a line of communication with state and federal legislatures with local municipalities in the state.



Chuck Chiarello, president of NJCM and Mayor of Buena Vista Township, said a sitting governor had not attended a summit hosted by the organization in six years.



“I hope this is the beginning of more open communication and give-and-take among the chief executives of our communities in our state,” Murphy said.



The governor’s comments to the mayors reiterated his interest in “honest conversations” about accomplishing property tax relief, closing tax loopholes for the wealthy and creating a “stronger and fairer” economy with support from both political parties.



Murphy focused on enabling mayors to allow their residents to deduct property taxes as a charitable deduction, an idea outlined by U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, 5th District. The governor said this would provide “immediate relief,” and committed the state to more extensive solutions moving forward.



“While we commit to long-term effort, let’s also commit to common sense and immediate relief for our taxpayers,” Murphy said.

