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No Extension for Ridgewood Tax Collector’s Office Hours

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December 28,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, according to Village Manager Heather Mailander , “At this time, we are not going to extend the office hours, due to the fact that there is no lead time in letting people know about it. It has been on our website since last week. Over the past three weeks, hundreds of residents have called in to get information or have come in to prepay their 2018 taxes and continue to do so. Today alone, the line to prepay taxes has extended past the Building Department and over 500 residents have prepaid their 2018 taxes today.”

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Pre-payment of Ridgewood 2018 taxes (or any portion thereof) must be received in this office no later than December 29, 2017

village-hall-theridgewoodblog

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING PRE-PAYMENT OF REAL ESTATE TAXES

Office hours Monday – Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm

Ridgewood NJ, The Village of Ridgewood Tax Office will accept any regular payment or pre-payment toward real estate taxes.

Your pre-payment of 2018 taxes (or any portion thereof) must be received in this office no later than December 29, 2017. We do not accept postmark.
Payments may be dropped in the yellow mail box marked “Village Mail Only” at the rear entrance of Village Hall.

Neither the Tax Collector nor employees of the tax collector’s office can give information or advice pertaining to the deductibility of any payment of real estate taxes for personal income tax purposes. Residents are encouraged to seek advice from their personal tax professionals on such matters.

If your taxes are paid through your mortgage company, you must contact them first to confirm that they will not also make payment. We have already reported payment amounts due for the February quarter to all of the mortgage companies.

Also, if you should request a refund, we will send you a 1099.

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Governor Christie Orders Local Governments To Accept Prepayment Of 2018 Property Taxes

Taxes-1

December 27,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, Governor Chris Christie today signed the following Executive Order:

Executive Order No. 237 – Directs the Director of the Division of Local Government to notify municipalities to accept payments for 2018 property taxes in calendar year 2017 and require them to credit those payments as received in 2017 if the payment is postmarked on or before December 31, 2017.

“The action I took today will ensure that local governments are flexible and accommodating of their local property taxpayers as we transition to the new federal tax code for 2018,” Governor Christie said. “This executive order requires local officials to dedicate the resources and staffing to serve New Jerseyans who are planning in this way for their families and their futures.”

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The new law does not permit a deduction for any home equity debt

RidgewoodRealestatesign_theridgewoodblog2

December 27,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, CPA James Brown says Home Mortgage Interest , (Schedule A – Lines 10-12) under the old tax law, a taxpayer could deduct the interest on up to $1 million of acquisition debt for the purchase of the taxpayer’s first and second homes. In addition, taxpayers were allowed to deduct the interest on up to $100,000 of home equity debt. The new law reduces the $1 million limit on home acquisition debt to $750,000 ($375,000 for married separate filers) for first and second homes, except the lower limit won’t apply to indebtedness incurred before December 15, 2017. That is, the $1 million cap continues to apply to acquisition mortgages on a primary and second residence already in existence prior to December 15, 2017. However, starting with 2018 returns, the new law does not permit a deduction for any equity debt, which can have an adverse impact on individuals who have used their home equity to pay for costs of tuition, travel, cars, and other purposes.

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the fly has learned some people are their own worst enemy

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the fly has learned that there is some resistance to in the Central business community to accept the estate card , which offers credits to residents toward payment of property taxes . Some resident groups are considering boycotting the central business district over their lack of enthusiasm …

 

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Ridgewood Ticket Blitz to Target Empoyees Who Use Street Parking in the Central Business District

Employee parking lots near Town Garage

December 27,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the Village of Ridgewood is currently executing a ticket blitz on employees that use street parking instead of the employee parking lots. After much effort was made by the Village to support the merchants and restaurants the employee parking lots have not been used and there is a resistance to use them from both the Chamber and the Guild . The ticket blitz is seen a way for tax payers to collect money and help mitigate parking garage costs .

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Ridgewood Year End leaf Update

leaf3 pickup theridgewoodblog.net 1

file photo by Boyd Loving

LEAF UPDATE (12/21/17)

December 27,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Here is the newest leaf of date as per the Village Hall ; as of 12/21/17 we are currently working in Area D. It is anticipated that we will begin collection in Area A on Wednesday, December 27th. After Area A is completed we will perform a final collection through Area C, Area, D, Area B and Area A weather permitting. You can always bag your leaves in paper biodegradable bags or bring leaves to the Recycling Center. The hours of operation at the Recycling Center are Monday through Saturday, 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM. If you bag your leaves please call the Street Division at (201) 670-5585 and we will collect them up to February 28th.

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Schedler Ad Hoc Committee Pitches a Well thought Out Compromise for Ridgewood

schedler field

December 27,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, new vision for Schedler Field is a grand compromise . Like many of you we immediately thought here we go again. However  the Schedler ad hoc committee attempted to balance historical preservation, sports , passive parks , the neighborhood , traffic and the environmental impact.

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First a little back ground :

ZabriskieSchedler House is one of the last remaining 1820s Dutch wood frame houses in Bergen County

In 2003, Ridgewood Open Space Committee submitted plan identifying Schedler property as a “first-priority” target for acquisition by Ridgewood

In 2007, Village was informed that family would be selling Schedler property

In 2008, Open Space Committee provided Council with report recommending that “the initial development [of Schedler property] consist of a parking lot, a baseball diamond and overlay multipurpose field (without lights or restrooms), with the remainder of property left as passive recreation space with wooded areas and a disabled-accessible (ADA compliant), senior-friendly paved walking path around the perimeter

In 2008, Open Space Committee urged Village to acquire Schedler property, warning that “if the property is acquired by a private developer, the Village will face the possibility of a ‘builder remedy’ suit forcing the Village to accept high-density multi-family residential development of the property including affordable housing units”

In 2009, Village purchased Schedler property for $2.7 million with grants from the Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund

In 2013, Village purchased Shotmeyer property, a .358 acre parcel of land that was surrounded by the Schedler property, for approximately $90,000.

In 2015, Council passed resolution adopting Open Space Committee’s recommendation for passive and active park that included playground, walking path, 90 ft. baseball diamond, and a 120 x 75 yd. multi-purpose field. Resolution also provided road map for stabilization and possible restoration of Schedler house

In 2017, the Council rescinded 2015 resolution, deciding instead to re-analyze the proposed plan for Schedler, and appointed this Ad Hoc Committee to propose a development plan.

In the end they came up with a very scaled down sports field with no baseball diamond , some parking , removal of dead and or dangerous trees , an eye on preservation and enriched passive park options  with respect to the neighbors and neighborhood.

It appears to be a nice balance between  the neighborhood, sports and historical preservation and recreation.

see the committee presentation :

https://www.ridgewoodnj.net/news/1677-schedler-ad-hoc-committee-presentation-to-village-council

 

 

 

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Historical Archibald Vroom House in Ridgewood Named Historic Structures that Define the Community

Archibald Vroom House , Ridgewood NJ

December 26, 2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the Bergen County Historical Society mention the Historical Archibald Vroom House, which adds, and does not detract, from the charming downtown. This is just one of many examples where historic structures add to the charm of an area but also are able to be reused in unique ways privately. These historic structures define our communities and who we are.

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Reader says Schedler will be Just like Habernickle, Ridgewood residents are almost completely supporting the business at Habernickle. Free lights. free watering, free groundskeeping. free ramp for the disabled and a paltry rent

Habernickel Park Gate House

Please. Ridgewood Villagers, follow the ball on this. It could easily turn into a huge, hazardous money pit like Habernickle. Ridgewood residents are almost completely supporting the business at Habernickle. Free lights. free watering, free groundskeeping. free ramp for the disabled and a paltry rent that was written in the favor of the tenant. Is there nothing we can do to at least make them pay their way if we can’t evict them? Isn’t there a law that says land purchased using Green Acres money may not be used for a profit company. (They probably refer to themselves as non-profit but that should easily be proved to be incorrect. (If she had to pay for any of the services that Ridgewood supplies; then she might be able to declare herself non-profit. But as long as her bills are paid for through Ridgewood, she can’t help but make money on the deal.

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Ridgewood Residents subject to the AMT, prepaid real estate taxes paid will not reduce your federal income tax at all as for AMT purposes

for sale Ridgewood_Real_Estate_theRodgewopodblog

file photo by Boyd Loving

December 26,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Under the new tax bill, deductions for property tax payments and other so-called SALT deductions will be limited to $10,000. That’s going to hurt in Ridgewood and most of New Jersey.
The decision to prepay your Feb. 1, 2018 real estate tax bill by the end of December is predicated on whether you are subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)for 2017, said Neil Becourtney, a certified public accountant and tax partner with CohnReznick in Eatontown.
“If you are subject to the AMT, then any additional real estate taxes paid will not reduce your federal income tax at all as for AMT purposes, real estate taxes are not allowed,” Becourtney said.
He said the additional real estate tax payment will lower your regular tax, but the AMT liability will be unchanged — thus your tax liability will be unchanged as you pay the higher of the regular tax or the AMT.
The AMT is quite complex, Becourtney said.
If you were subject to the AMT for 2016 and your overall income and deductions are comparable for 2017, you are probably going to be to AMT again, he said.

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Reader asks Would the RBSA and Council bring in someone who knows how to test for actual pollution in both the air and the soil?

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Would the RBSA and Council bring in someone who knows how to test for actual pollution in both the air and the soil? Everyone is chiming in with what they think and what they “know” but unless an expert has done testing, who knows what is true? Such experts check the air and land quality before a school is built. At least in those cases, the children are inside and partially protected. With our children both completely outside and with home plate practically on the highway no one really knows what amounts they may be exposed to. Sound is also a problem but until we have an expert doing a pollution check, nothing more should go forward.

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Reader says A ball field and a passive park are usually welcomed in an area that is safe, and non-hazardous. Unfortunately neither is a true statement for the Schedler property

Zabriskie-Schedler_Property_theridgewoodblog

A ball field and a passive park are usually welcomed in an area that is safe, and non-hazardous. Unfortunately neither is a true statement for the Schedler property. Yes, old ball fields remain near highways. Due to the hazardous air pollution few new ones are being built. Has anyone from the EPA come out and actually tested the air quality, especially at rush hours? Do the advocates have even an inkling of the hazards of pollution on anyone’s lungs? Also, a beam of small trees (nothing tall can survive with such limited root space) will do nothing for sound and physical protection. Look back and see how many cars and trucks have come through the sound barriers. Trees won’t physically protect participants near the highway. Also. are you preparing to add a sound system to the field? Without one, no one will hear the umpire’s calls, or the instructions to take another base, or a kid yelling “I got it!” Everyone involved will have to yell and then no-one will hear each other anyway. Parents from quiet areas of Ridgewood should take a drive over to check the sound. See how close you actually have to be to hear another person without screaming. I think many of you have no idea what you will find. If you haven’t experienced it, you really can’t imagine how bad it is.

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Reader suggests Lock Your Car or it should be assumed that you’re not just incredibly stupid but you want the car stolen

Parked cars theridgwoodblog.net

It seems like a large number or stolen cars are luxury vehicles with keys still in the car. Are they all really being stolen without the owners’ wishes? How many found they had bought a car they couldn’t afford and left it virtually open to be stolen? If insurance companies would wise up and not pay unless the vehicle seizure was not helped in any way by the owners. You would have to be blind, deaf, and dumb not to have seen the multiple police warnings. (and if you were all three, you can’t drive a car anyway.) If you want to keep your car, lock it up, and don’t leave valuable items in sight within it. Otherwise it should be assumed that you’re not just incredibly stupid but you want the car stolen.

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Ridgewood Village Hall Holiday Hours

Christmas Tree Village of Ridgewood

December 24,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ , Holiday Hours – All Village offices will be closed on December 25th, December 26th, and January 1st, in observance of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. There will be no garbage or recycling collected on December 25th and January 1st, and the Recycling Center will be closed on these days. The Recycling Center will be open on December 26th.