The NJ Tax Blog

Is a real estate tax appeal admissbile in a condemnation proceeding?


Read More: http://njtoday.net/2012/04/02/real-estate-tax-appeal-evidence-admissible-in-eminent-domain-case/

One attorney's response to The Records March 25, 2012 article about "More Appeals Denied"

Read More: http://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/145465655_The_Record__Letters__April_1__2012.html

Towns settled more than 50% of all tax appeal cases filed in 2011

Property owners must verify sales comps before hearing this year due to tax assessors rejecting sales as non-usable.

Read More: http://www.northjersey.com/realestate/news_residential/032412_More_tax_appeals_denied_as_towns_reject_data_on_low-priced_homes.html

2012 Tax Appeal Deadline
The 2012 annual deadline to file a property tax appeal is either April 2, 2012 or May 1, 2012.

The deadline to file an appeal in a town that has implemented a municipal-wide revaluation or reassessment is May 1, 2012. See List below.

For all other municiplaities, the 2012 annual deadline to file an appeal is April 2, 2012.

2012 New Jersey Revaluations and Reassessments

Atlantic
Egg Harbor
Long Port

Bergen
Allendale
Cresskill
Dumont
Fairlawn
Hasbrouk Heights
Lyndhurst
Maywood
Midland Park
Ridgefield
Riveredge
Woodcliff Lake

Burlington
Beverly
Bordontown Twp
Burlington City
Delran
Medford
Shamong
Southampton

Camden
Hi-Nella
Lawnside
Magnolia
Merchantville
Winslow Twp

Cumberland
Upper Freehold

Essex
Fairfield
Montclair
South Orange

Gloucester
Deptford
East Greenwich
Mantua
Westville
Woodbury
Woodbury Hts

Hunterdon
Flemington
West Amwell

Monmouth
Deal
Howell
Millstone

Middlesex
Carteret
Helmetta

Morris
Hanover
Montville
Pequonnock
Mt Olive
Rockaway Twp
Lincoln Park

Ocean
Ocean Twp
Eagleswood

Passaic
Bloomingdale
North Haledon
West Milford

Somerset
Bedminister
Bernards
Bernardsville
Branchburg
Bridgewater
Far Hills
Franklin
Millstone
Peapack
Warren
Watchung

Sussex
Branchville
Byrum
Fredon

Warren
Lopatcong
Pohatcong

Montclair has hired Realty Apprasial Company to reassess "every" property in Montclair in 2012.

Read more:
http://www.northjersey.com/news/127921303_Montclair_reassessment_will_impact_all_property_values.html

Governor Christie has promised that your property tax increase will be capped at 2% this year. According to the Asbury Park Press, this didn't happen.

Read more:
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011308100125

Governor Christie Takes Action to Streamline State Government Through Common Sense Reorganization Plans
Trenton, NJ – Continuing his commitment to making state government smaller, more efficient and cost effective for New Jersey taxpayers, Governor Chris Christie today filed reorganization plans that transfer, eliminate or better position the operation of five units within state government. The plans streamline government operations through common sense reorganization of some Executive Branch functions, including the abolition of the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) and transfer of its responsibilities to the Department of Community Affairs. The move marks another step toward achieving Governor Christie’s commitment to real affordable housing reform.

“Managing state government to ensure that programs and services are delivered to our citizens in the most efficient, cost-effective manner possible is a key priority of this Administration,” said Governor Christie. “We are following through on this responsibility to make government run more efficiently and work better for all New Jerseyans. A crucial step in this process is the elimination of COAH and the transfer of its functions to a department which already supports our local governments and works closely with them on a daily basis. I’ve always believed that municipalities should be able to make their own decisions on affordable housing without being micromanaged and second guessed from Trenton. The Department of Community Affairs will work with municipalities on affordable housing, not against them.”

Altogether, the reorganizations represent additional progress in the ongoing efforts of the Christie Administration to streamline operations to organize, consolidate and coordinate agencies and functions of the Executive Branch according to major purposes in order to promote better execution of the laws and a more effective use of limited public resources.

“Through these reorganizations, we are eliminating duplicative efforts, consolidating functions, increasing efficiencies and reducing unnecessary spending in our continuing efforts to ensure that New Jersey’s overburdened taxpayers have the lean, efficient and well-organized government they deserve,” concluded Governor Christie.

The restructurings consist of:



· Reorganization Plan No. 001-2011, which eliminates the Council on Affordable Housing, transferring its functions and duties to the Department of Community Affairs. The move implements recommendations of the Red Tape Review Group created by Executive Order No. 3, reducing costs and promoting more efficient operations of the burdensome regulatory agency. The elimination of COAH is also consistent with the recommendations of the Housing Opportunity Task Force created by Executive Order No.12. Download Now [PDF]



· Reorganization Plan No. 002-2011, which transfers the State Planning Commission and the Office of Smart Growth from the Department of Community Affairs to the Department of State. The shift will promote greater efficiency and effectiveness of planning for economic growth and coordination responsibilities of these state planning entities. Download Now [PDF]



· Reorganization Plan No. 003-2011, which moves the Business Retention and Attraction Division of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to the Department of State. The transfer will promote more efficient operations while streamlining the management and implementation of important business-related priorities to create jobs in New Jersey. Download Now [PDF]



· Reorganization Plan No. 004-2011, which relocates the Amistad Commission from the Department of State to the Department of Education. Since the Commission is charged with assisting educators in implementing a history curriculum about the African slave trade and slavery in America and New Jersey, this move will improve efficiency and quality in the performance of its responsibilities. Download Now [PDF]



· Reorganization Plan No. 005-2011, which eliminates the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education and transfers the powers, functions and duties of the Commission to the Secretary of Higher Education. The plan furthers the recommendations of the New Jersey Higher Education Task Force created by Executive Order No. 26 chaired by Governor Thomas H. Kean. In its December 2010 report, the Task Force specifically noted the immediate need for reform of the State’s higher education governance structure to improve coordination, effectiveness, and accountability in service of New Jersey’s students and residents. Governor Christie appointed Rochelle Hendricks Secretary of Higher Education on May 12, 2011. The Secretary of Higher Education is supported by the Governor’s Higher Education Council created by Executive Order No. 52. Download Now [PDF]

According to an article in the Sunday Star Ledger, a typical foreclosure takes 3 years to complete. Due to an initiative by Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, foreclosures were halted on December 20, 2010 to address concerns that the Courts were rubber-stamping files with inaccurate or inadequate paperwork.

Judge Rabner's decision will be felt for many years.


According to the article, lenders are waiting to file 28,500 foreclosures and another 55,000 mortgage loans are more than 90 days delinquent. At the current rate, it will take 49 years for banks to clear the logjam of these mortgage loans.

And when the foreclosed homes hit the market, home prices will be negatively affected.


http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/06/after_ruling_halted_nj_foreclo.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Average N.J. property taxes in 2010 jump more than 4 percent from previous year!!!
As reported in the Star Ledger, last years property taxes jumped more than 4% even with the 4% cap on municipal, school and county budgets. Expect more of the same this year.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/03/average_property_taxes_in_2010.html

The 2011 annual deadline to file an appeal is May 1, 2011 for property located in a municipality implementing a municipal wide reassessment or revaluation.

For all other property, the 2011 annual deadline to file an appeal is April 1, 2011.

Contact me to discuss your individual situation.