According to the Tax Foundation, New Jersey’s 7 percent retail sales tax ranks the state 19th in the country in terms of what’s known as a "transparent" tax – meaning citizens are aware of how much they pay and when. There are no local sales taxes in the Garden State, although there are some localities

Noncompliance with checklist will affect the amount of state aid municipalities receive.

Local officials make sure NJ lawmakers get the message, unfunded mandates drive up property taxes and make it tough on Garden State residents.

Tables turned, public schools across the Garden State are told to disclose how they evaluate faculty -- and then there’s the little issue of posting the results online.