“residents here in Ridgewood know more about what happens than the eggheads at the BOE & REA who theorize on how to control thoughts as they trade bon mots at their cocktail parties. Should corona last for the long run, the intelligentsia and NJEA unions will be toast as they cling to their days gone by like the Luddites they are. I pity the truly great teachers in the district who have been lumped into the mix with the Marxists.”
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, The Department of the Treasury reported that June revenue collections for the major taxes totaled $2.92 billion, down $503 million, or 14.7 percent below last June. The June decline eclipsed last month’s decline of 13.5 percent over the previous May, indicating that the economic impact of the global pandemic shows little signs of abating. Fiscal year-to-date, total collections of $29.784 billion are now down $3.0 billion, or 9.2 percent below the same period last year.
Continue reading New Jersey Tax Collections Weaken Further , Down 14.7% in June
“We are screwed in NJ due to a few things. The developers know that if they don’t get what they want, the ‘mt laurel’ nonsense is used as a ‘builders remedy’ and they simply toss in the minimum number of affordable housing units and get exponentially more ‘market rate’ units that would have been allowed under the permitted zoning. I have zero respect for our former council members, but depending on whether the developer gives a crap about town, it could be worse. I am not in favor of ANY of these new monstrosities and would have preferred something more within the existing character of the Village.”
Trenton NJ, according to Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger from Red Bank tagged on to Governor Murphy”s borrowing binge is a surcharge on property tax bills:
In a Facebook post Scharfenberger explained ,”Just when you thought you heard everything, bill A-4175, on schedule for a vote this Thursday, would allow the state to borrow five billion dollars without voter approval that would add a statewide surcharge to everyone’s property tax bill. This, on top of the recent toll hikes, is a double kick in the gut to the New Jersey taxpayer. While the governor keeps business in perpetual lockdown, Trenton is looking for ways to raise money through more egregious taxation. This is outrageous, and shows why it is imperative that we reopen the state now! “
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, When Ridgewood schools closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, most parents assumed they would reopen in a matter of weeks.Instead, schools across the country have remained closed and will likely remain closed for the rest of the academic year.
Continue reading Should Ridgewood Taxpayers Get A “Coronavirus Tax Refund” Due to Closed Schools?
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Quarterly Tax Payment due May 1st
The 2nd quarterly property tax payment is due May 1st; however, the Village Council has adopted a resolution stating that the interest on all late payments will be waived, through July 31, 2020. Any quarterly tax payments received August 1st or later will be charged from May 1st to the date of payment. If you have concerns about your quarterly tax payments, please contact Jessica Arnott, Tax Collector, for further guidance.
Continue reading Village of Ridgewood Quarterly Tax Payment due May 1st
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the village council voted on Wednesday to approve a $51 million budget for the 2020 fiscal year which increases property taxes 2.2%.Village home owners will see an $85 tax increase for the average home assessed at $701,997, said Chief Financial Officer Bob Rooney.The budget vote was 4-1 with Councilman Jeffrey Voigt the sole vote against the budget.
Continue reading Ridgewood Real-estate : a noticeable weakness in the sales of higher priced homes
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the group administrator of the Facebook group ,”it takes a Ridgewood Village” Saurabh Dani offered the following information , ” Ridgewood is going to get 654,822$ more in state aid this year compared to last year – this is an increase of 16.9%.
To pay for this increased aid, the state is going to increase tolls, corporate tax and other state taxes, including income tax on many of Ridgewood residents. The state’s goal is to reduce property taxes with this added “aid / state tax increase”.
Our BOE has decided to use up the increase in state aid in their operating budget and not adjust this 655K towards proposed 2% increase of property tax.
Should the BOE reconsider it’s decision and reduce property tax increase of 2% and change it to “2% – minus- 654K”? “
“In 2012, the voters of Ridgewood elected me to the Board of Education and in two subsequent elections, I was reelected. In all, I will have served eight years on the board, the last three as Vice President. It has been a challenging and rewarding experience to serve as a volunteer Trustee of our District. I want to thank the Village residents for offering me this opportunity.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Each year, the average American household spends $2,375 on real-estate property taxes plus another $441 for residents of the 27 states with vehicle property taxes. With such high costs, it’s no surprise that more than $14 billion in property taxes go unpaid each year, according to the National Tax Lien Association.
Continue reading New Jersey Ranked Highest Property Taxes in the Country
“Property taxes in Ridgewood are out of control. See the late model tinted window SUVs and private firing range (for a force that has never discharged a weapon) fur the Ridgewood Police Department, or the three full-time professional firefighters redundantly stationed 24/7 at Engine 311 on West Glen when the main firehouse is less than a mile away. Don’t even get started on the teachers who scream ”impasse” the second the BOE proposes reducing their platinum healthcare benefits…”
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Mahwah NJ, 5th District Congressional candidate Frank Pallotta asked his fellow GOP candidates to make a united stand with him to cut property taxes. In a letter to congressional candidates John McCann, Mike Ghassali, Jim Baldini, Jon Dalrymple, and Hector Castillo, Pallotta pointed out that he was the only Republican candidate with a plan to address the problem of rising property taxes in New Jersey.
Property taxes have been a major theme of the 5th District incumbent – Democrat Congressman Josh Gottheimer – who has proposed undoing the Trump tax cuts as a way to address New Jersey’s highest-in-the-nation property taxes. Pallotta has promised to “tackle the issues Gottheimer has only talked about.”
“Dr. Fishbein’s relationship with LAN has to be more heavily scrutinized. The mere fact that only one firm was awarded or sought to submit bids for these projects screams conflict of interest. Our Village resources are both limited and sacred. Formal RFP’s should be sought from numerous accredited firms demonstrating the wherewithal required to both execute and provide warranties for these critical projects, which should then be collectively vetted and selected by the board. Given the magnitude of dollars, and the associated impact on the Village’s fiscal health and on resident tax bills, anything short of a thorough and transparent process is a grossly negligent fulfillment of their fiduciary responsibilities to the residents.
This referendum should be a hard “NO” until these matters are fully vetted and cross checked.”
Saurabh Dani in the Facebook Group Ridgewood Moms and Dads with Free Speech
“The board of education was scheduled to vote on the 95M referendum question in Feb/March. They were working towards this goal for last couple of years while denying it as”rumors”.
Last night the board decided to push this vote by a few weeks, without providing exact timeline, probably pushing it out beyond the April 21 election date.
Continue reading The Continuing Saga of the Ridgewood Schools $95 Million Referendum
