Tag: property taxes

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Reader says It is unbelievable if not one of our council members attended the OVERDEVELOPMENT forum Bergen Community College

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It is unbelievable if not one of our council members attended this event!!! Instead of wasting your time on silly squabble, bet down to the issues that affect each and every tax payer in Ridgewood. We do not want to turn our town over to developers who are going to destroy the Village and line their pockets under the banner of “fair housing.” Can someone confirm whether or not we participated in this event and whether we are taking an active ole in supporting this Assembly womens’ efforts? And if our council people are not, they should consider resigning because they really are not addressing the most pressing issue facing and threating our town. Its outrageous that our council members are fiddling while Rome starts to burn beneath their feet! Arohnson and his ilk turned the town over to developers. But this group is doing nothing to try and take it back. Its time for action.

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USUALLY RIGHT: New Jersey’s local tax problems

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Jun 6, 2017

We have just held a primary election for governor in New Jersey, as well as for many legislative, county and local seats.

This is a time to reflect upon the property tax problems of the state of New Jersey, and I felt it would be a good time to write about some of my thoughts in this area.

I have my own view of what makes government so expensive in New Jersey versus other states from the bottom up.

I’ve had the opportunity to look extensively at municipal government services and costs, as well as those of county government. I’ve had the opportunity also to compare municipalities and counties here in New Jersey against those in other states in a benchmarking sense.

I preface these comments with the reminder that about 70 percent or 75 percent of your local property taxes are school taxes. I do not have significant experience in this area, so my comments are focused on municipal and county government structures and costs.

If you think about it, property taxes are by their very nature an anachronism. Most persons living on a piece of land today do not produce revenue from the land itself, as we did when we were an agrarian society in the 1600s and 1700s, when this system was created. Yes, it is that old. In fact, I think feudal societies worked similarly as well.

https://www.newjerseyhills.com/print_only/columns/usually-right-new-jersey-s-local-tax-problems/article_837b6fd1-52a0-51ca-8297-14243107f1e8.html

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Ridgewood Makes the List of 30 Highest Property Taxes in New Jersey

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#11 Ridgewood | $11,179
County: Bergen
Avg. total residential property tax: $17,180
Property tax breakdown: County 11% | School 65% | Municipal 24%

These 30 towns have the highest school tax bills in N.J.

Updated June 07, 2017
Posted June 07, 2017

By Kelly Heyboer | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

TRENTON — If your property taxes are high in New Jersey, chances are a good chunk of your annual bill is going to your local public schools.

New Jersey residents paid nearly $15 billion in school taxes as part of their property tax bills last year, according to data released by the state Department of Community Affairs.

Most residents’ property tax bills are made up of three parts: a county tax, a municipal tax and a school tax. Last year, school taxes accounted for about 52 percent of the average New Jersey property tax bill, according to the data.

In most cases, the money directly funded a local school district. In some smaller communities without their own schools, including Loch Arbour in Monmouth County, the money was used to pay tuition to send local students to neighboring public school districts.

The towns that have the highest average school tax bills are usually wealthier communities where property values are the highest. These towns generally fund a large share of their school expenses because they don’t receive significant state aid.

Here are the 30 New Jersey towns where residents paid the highest average school taxes in 2016:

https://www.nj.com/education/2017/06/these_30_towns_have_the_highest_school_taxes_in_nj.html#incart_river_home_pop

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N.J.’s raging school funding debate: What your next governor would do

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By Matt Arco | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Updated June 01, 2017
Posted June 01, 2017

Gov. Chris Christie once took a hard line when it comes to the way the state funds its public schools: Spend the same amount — $6,599 — per pupil in every district. He promised it would lower property taxes, but opponents say it would decimate urban schools that lean on the state for support.

His proposal, dubbed the “fairness formula,” was considered dead on arrival by the state’s Democratic-controlled Legislature, which is now squabbling over a new plan.

New Jersey funds its public schools through a formula passed in 2008 that determines how much each district needs to spend and considers each community’s ability to raise revenue through property taxes. More state aid goes to poorer districts.

New Jersey spends big on education, but Christie has regularly underfunded this formula for school aid by about $1 billion annually, forcing budget cuts and higher property taxes in some districts.

The school funding problem will pass on to the next governor in January. Here’s what the Republicans and Democrats seeking to succeed Christie would do.

https://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/06/where_every_candidate_for_nj_governor_stands_on_sc.html?utm_campaign=new-jersey-politics&utm_content=2017-02-06-9751150&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=channel-new-jersey-politics-distribution#incart_river_index

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IN NJ, AS IN NEARBY STATES, COMPETITIVENESS DRIVES AFFORDABILITY

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MICHELE SIEKERKA | MAY 30, 2017

The only way to stem our tide of outmigration is to bring our economic policies in line with our direct regional competitors — Pennsylvania and New York

NJBIA president and CEO Michele Siekerka

New Jersey has many positive attributes. We added almost 60,000 jobs in 2016, the state’s largest gain since 2000, according to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. We have among the best K-12 public education systems in the nation and a highly skilled workforce including the highest concentration of scientists and engineers in the world — more than 225,000 statewide.

New Jersey also has a strong transportation network. We are home to the Port of New York and New Jersey, the third largest seaport in North America and the largest and busiest maritime cargo center on the East Coast. And we are among the national leaders in logistics and distribution. New Jersey is also a great recreation state with more than 130 miles of shoreline, beautiful parks, and mountains.

Despite these great assets, New Jersey remains a significant outlier, both nationally and regionally when comparing competitiveness and affordability including our state’s high cost of living and its heavy tax burden. New Jersey’s border states, Pennsylvania and New York, continue to be the No. 1 and No. 2 outmigration states for New Jersey residents and are challenging our competitiveness.

To reverse this trend we must examine our policies on taxation, revenue generation, and spending, and we must do so through the filter of competitiveness and affordability.

https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/17/05/25/op-ed-in-nj-as-in-neighboring-states-competitiveness-drives-affordability/

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These 10 N.J. school districts may lay off teachers and staff next year

Ridgewood Teachers

Updated May 30, 2017
Posted May 30, 2017

By Justin Zaremba

As New Jersey schools draw up their annual budgets, some are finding that revenues aren’t enough to support all their needs. As a result, a few are contemplating or have approved laying off teachers and other staff for the 2017-2018 school year.

Here are the districts who are facing those cuts, listed by those who are planning to lay off the fewest staff members to the districts that are facing the most severe cuts.

https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2017/05/teacher_layoffs_2017.html?ath=9c46bfc08d76232bb5a5e00eeaf0bfa2#cmpid=nsltr_stryheadline

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Treasurer Says Current Budget Faces $527M Revenue Shortfall

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New Jersey state treasurer says Gov. Chris Christie’s fiscal year 2017 budget is expected to be about $527 million shy of expected revenues.

| May 16, 2017, at 6:50 p.m.

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey state treasurer told lawmakers Tuesday that Gov. Chris Christie’s fiscal year 2017 budget is expected to be about $527 million shy of expected revenues.

Ford Scudder told the Democrat-led Senate budget committee that the Republican administration will account for the shortfall by spending less than expected in a number of programs. He also said it will divert $50 million from the Clean Energy Fund and defer homestead benefit payments to towns across the state.

The shortfall is smaller than in previous years when Christie at one point in 2014 faced a $3 billion gap across two fiscal years and was forced to slash payments to the state’s public pension to make up for the missed revenue projections.

Scudder also told legislators that revenue projections for the 2018 budget, which begins on July 1, are expected to be $191 million higher from those made earlier this year.

Scudder’s estimates contrast with the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services, which has estimated a $687 million gap to close over the two fiscal years. The legislative analysts said they expected the 2017 revenues to dip by $274 million compared to earlier estimates and by $413 million for 2018.

These are Christie’s final two budgets as governor, as he is term-limited and expected to leave office in January. He’s proposing a $35.5 billion spending plan for 2018, which lawmakers are considering.

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-jersey/articles/2017-05-16/budget-forecast-new-jersey-faces-687m-gap-over-2-years

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The Village of Ridgewood Has a Budget

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May 10,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ,  the Village budget was up loaded on April 27th after it was approved by the state on New Jersey . The tax hike over last year is about .04%  ,hardly massive. The previous administration increased the budget 1.6% , this Village council is looking for an increase of 2%.

The council made an effort to balance many competing issues and expenses with an eye on investing in the future of the Village as opposed to the previous administration which used emergency funds to pay for current non emergency expenses .

The Mayor and Council continued their on going battle with the Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) which continues its ill informed agenda driven attacks on the Village Council.

The mayor explained the parking pass rate increase , and the overall allocation of parking.  There has been an attempt to push use of less utilized parking through a lower rate and get employees off the street with discounted parking .The parking rate increase of $1000 was proposed by the from the Financial Advisories Committee , but the Council raised the rate to $750.It was important to balance commuters with shoppers with CBD employees.

The recent letter published in the media by former Village manager mirrored a letter that was sent to the Village council by the FAC.

In response to the Ridgewood News letter to the editor written by Roberta Sonenfeld: Residents should be cautious relying on the content due to errors, omissions and misrepresentations.

• Sonenfeld’s suggestion that the process wasn’t transparent is remarkable! The process followed is the same she was required to follow as former Village Manager. AS REQUIRED BY LAW, once the budget is introduced it must be reviewed by the Village auditor and afterwards, again as required by law, must be submitted to the State in THEIR BUDGET FORMAT for review with the completion of a check list and all required documentation. This process is no different than any other year – even during those years she was village manager. When the budget is advertised, it advises the public to contact the Village CFO with the appropriate phone number and extension. No phone calls have been received to date.• Sonenfeld’s feigned surprise about the use of “rainy day” funds is curious since Sonenfeld utilized the surplus over and over again. She need only review her use of $3.032mil in 2015 and $3.3mil in 2016. The 2017 use of surplus, at approximately 10% more, is well within the amounts stipulated by the guidelines of the resolution recommended by Sonenfeld and adopted by Village Council last year for the utilization of “rainy day” reserves.

• Sonenfeld writes, “the budget proposes $7.4 million in authorized general debt for 2017 – an 88 percent increase over last year.” If she had provided the actual 2016 amount of $6.021 million ( authorized general debt) readers would have recognized her math error…. The increase of 21% NOT 88% – the difference is for possible property acquisition. Remember this is not incurred debt, IT IS AUTHORIZED BUT NOT ISSUED

• Too other many errors, omissions and misrepresentations to list!!! The Mayor says you can email if you have any questions: [email protected]

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New Jersey Teachers Facing Layoffs

REA, ridgewoood teachers
May 10,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, whats this New Jersey school districts laying off teachers ? Perhaps the day of reckoning may be coming .
Its started in 2015 with Paterson School district laying off people ,now this year both Lakewood and Bayonne . Wherev there is smoke there is fire ?
Bayonne school board votes to lay off nearly 300 district employees
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Reader says Reluctantly After 20 years in Ridgewood, we have changed our plans and will be joining others who are leaving

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Truly Amazing to see any official defend this type of budget. If my company performance mirrored that of our schools with the never ending costs I would be fired in a moment. Ridgewood you win.

Reluctantly After 20 years in Ridgewood, we have changed our plans and will be joining others who are leaving. Our children are gone and although we planned to stay and the village should also want us to stay as we have no longer have kids in the system, we have lost the fight. Our property taxes are almost $50,000. The taxes have gone up almost 8x in 20 years while my home value has been stagnant or reduced. The schools do not excel despite the spin, I can’t water my lawn, can’t park at the station to get to work, can’t get through town with all the traffic, very hard to live here now. The mayor is able to get her family village jobs, sell us her property for millions, Spend money on a old house and then fight to protect it, guess the list goes on.

Funny thing. We have a house in another part of NJ with a higher value, half the taxes, higher ranked schools, and much easier commute to NYC.

Good luck Ridgewood. Will miss it.

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Ridgewood school board adopts $105 million budget

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NorthJerseyPublished 11:01 a.m. ET May 4, 2017 | Updated 19 hours ago

The Ridgewood Board of Education unanimously passed its annual budget this week.

The $105 million spending plan is funded primarily through a $91 million tax levy, an increase of .97 percent over the previous year. School taxes on a home assessed at the village average of $696,063 will be $11,401, up from $11,325 this year, an increase of $76.

The budget has a tax rate of $1.638 per $100 of assessed value, up from $1.627 last year, for a 0.67 percent increase.

https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/2017/05/04/ridgewood-school-board-adopts-105-million-budget/309964001/

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Sweeney Pledges More Aid for “Underfunded NJ Schools”

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By Salvador Rizzo • 05/02/17 12:47pm

Senate President Steve Sweeney drew a line in the sand over school funding on Tuesday, saying his house would only pass a budget that shifts state dollars to underfunded urban and suburban districts this year.

Gov. Chris Christie has drafted a $35.5 billion spending plan for fiscal 2018 — $13.8 billion of which would go to schools — and lawmakers are reviewing his plan before the July 1 deadline to enact the budget.

https://observer.com/2017/05/sweeney-pledges-more-aid-for-underfunded-nj-schools/?utm_campaign=new-jersey-politics&utm_content=2017-03-05-9525717&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=New%20Jersey%20Politics

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We must stop the affordable housing crisis

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Holly Schepisi 12:06 p.m. ET May 2, 2017

New Jersey has the highest property taxes, foreclosure rate and is the most expensive state in the nation to own a home.  Common sense and basic economics tell us that there is too much supply and too little demand, with high taxes and a dense population distorting total housing costs upward.

Now we are facing the equivalent of housing Armageddon.  A non-profit entity with ties to developers is attempting to force towns across the state to build 280,000 affordable housing units in the next nine years.

https://www.northjersey.com/story/opinion/contributors/2017/05/02/we-must-stop-affordable-housing-crisis/101146216/

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These towns will give you a property tax break for buying locally

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By Dino Flammia May 2, 2017 2:53 AM

You hate taxes but love buying stuff. So what’s better than reducing your tax burden by purchasing a slice of pizza or new floors for the house?

A growing number of New Jersey municipalities are introducing property tax rebate cards into the community — an idea birthed by Marlboro Township in 2012.

Residents register cards with their homes, and when they present their cards upon making a purchase at participating businesses, portions of those purchase are eventually shaved off their third-quarter property tax bills.

Since May 2016, Union Township residents realized $4,350 in property tax savings as of February with the Union VIP card, according to Fatimah Raymond, executive director of the town’s Special Improvement District.

Read More: These towns will give you a property tax break for buying locally | https://nj1015.com/these-towns-will-give-you-a-property-tax-break-for-buying-locally/?trackback=tsmclip

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AS POLS DAWDLE OVER SCHOOL FUNDING, HERE ARE THE NUMBERS AT STAKE

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JOHN MOONEY | APRIL 18, 2017

Depending on whose math you follow, districts could be in line for $1 billion to $2 billion

In his final year in office, Gov. Chris Christie set a deadline of early June for reaching a compromise with the Legislature about school funding — and offered to sit down with lawmakers to hammer out a compromise.

But halfway through his 100-day challenge, little has happened — at least publicly. In the meantime, the administration has been forced to release details about the $1 billion or more at stake for districts in the debate.

https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/17/04/18/as-pols-dawdle-over-school-funding-here-are-the-numbers-at-stake/