Readers debate Retiring in Ridgewood
55+ communities have amenities, pools, club houses, jogging paths and activities. They try to be like resorts.
The developments in Ridgewood will have the NYC trains. There are no amenities. Cramped housing alongside a train track. What will the taxes be for a two bedroom unit?
If it costs $14,000 to educate a child in the RPS then it will cost the schools $42,000 to 56,000 to educate my replacement’s kids. If school taxes are 65% of my bill then I am paying $19,500 in school taxes. If I stay the town comes out way ahead.
If the town remains rigid then I will buy a beautiful home somewhere else. I would like to stay in Ridgewood but it is just silly to stay and pay the high taxes and receive little in return.
I cannot afford to live in Ridgewood in my senior years. I am not sure that NJ will be my home. I pay 30k in taxes in the Wood. Kids are out of school, I will probably sell my house to a family with 3+ Kids. I am not looking for a handout but I have paid my “fair share”.Don’t tell me how I can contribute to the community in my retirement, my community priced me out.
I will downsize and you can have three or more kids in the school. Consider the cost to the town for three more students.I love my house. Once I sell I can move anywhere, I don’t need to be in Ridgewood. I can’t afford to stay but I am not sure that the district can afford to have me move. I will be the one who comes out ahead financially.
My parents last child in school was 1977. They have stayed here and like the town, effectively subsidizing all of the new familes for over 36 years. They also would like to stay, but unless there is some end to the never-ending real estate tax increases, they will be selling, most likely to a family that will fill all 4 bedrooms with students.I moved back here 16 years ago to help take care of my old folks (I never had any kids in these schools) so my subsidy check towards the students has been for 16 years.Just a simple example of 2 homes that, when sold, will equate to at least 5-10 new students enrolled.
The best way to control taxes for all is to encourage those of us who do not use the schools to stay in town. Every time there is a sale, its to a young couple with a baby carriage from NYC or hoboken with new students for the schools. You rarely see retired folks moving here. (if we buy in a 55+ community its going to be in a low tax are, not in downtown ridgewood-not all of us want to live in apartments)
Many towns freeze taxes for people over a certain age (whether 62, 65, or whatever). This would help a lot and pay off for the town.
Even if I could work a deal for $0.0 in taxes I don’t know that I would retire in Ridgewood, or anywhere in northern NJ. The weather is shit for half the year, it’s crowded, and a veritable police state.
Taxes are not the issue for me. Quality of life is. There is no fishing, no surfing, minimal golf (and what’s here is cost prohibitive unless you want to call the Bergen county # at 12:01 AM for a tee time at Darlington which you won’t get anyway).
I love Ridgewood for what it is: a great place to raise my kid while I race with the other rats all day. However, there are just too many better places to live if you don’t have to schlep into the city. Two things are going to happen one fall day in the future. I am going to drive my kid to college, and I am going to return to someplace warm an cozy for the winter. It won’t be Ridgewood…
All good points. Is the council listening? ( I know in FLA the real estate taxes are paid based upon the value at the time of purchase. So new residents cannot force the long time residents to subsidize their wishlists. Its fair and makes good sense)
Freezing the property tax for people over a certain age is done by some towns. That would help some people stay.
Council can’t control the weather but if they could, they’d botch it.
#2 The taxes on my first home were $18,000 when I sold ten years ago. My current Ridgewood home was worth more when I bought it then it is now. That said, you have a good plan. We have to base our taxes on something.
Taxes will continue to spiral if we all continue to transfer real estate from those without children to those with children. I am sure that there is a town somewhere that has come up with a system and has already worked out the hiccups.
I like living in Ridgewood. That being said, if Ridgewood does not find a way to stop the increase in taxes, I’ll sell my parent’s place if they go to assisted living. Since my presence will no longer be required here to take care of them, I’ll also sell and just get a place in mahwah and spend 50% less in taxes than Ridgewood. Both of our homes are in desirable neighborhoods and will get purchased by young families with children.
The cycle will continue, but at an accellerated pace of new school attendees.
In the past people just ‘bit the bullet’ and stayed in town (except for our ‘temporary residents” who beat feet out of town after their last rug rat graduates RHS).
Ridgewood used to be a great town. Now it is a gutted shell of its former self and is a revolving door town attactive to people who value style over substance.
The revolving door is a good visual. People come with their kids and move out graduation day.
Ridgewood lacks the leadership and vision to attract people to move here and the taxes are way too high to justify people’s staying here. We are governed by special interests that care more about personal agendas than the Village’s future. Until we can attract more competent civil servants, we will be in for more of the same in the coming years.
The single most effective way to keep property taxes in line is to attract and keep residents who do not require the most expensive services.
The most expensive services are the schools. Just read your tax bill!
Keep the empty nesters happy, encourge singles and couples without children to move here, stay here, shop here, and spend here.
Its not that complicated.
One day the town will be too expensive for young people with kids.That will have downward pressure on housing prices.
There are a lot of towns with good schools and the trend will shift away from Ridgewood because we will price people out.
Get out while you can.