Bergen County tops NJ in property tax bills
By John Reitmeyer, The Record (Hackensack, N.J.) | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Factoring in all municipal, school and county taxes, bills in
In
At the other end of the spectrum, the cheapest average property tax bills were the
Property tax bills have long been a top concern for
But the cap included several exceptions that allow towns, county governments and school boards to exceed the limit for spending on debt payments, public employee benefits and response to disasters.
The figures released by the state on Thursday did not track the increase in special fees that some towns have been levying as a way to get around the property tax cap, a loophole Christie has been pressing lawmakers to close. And they don't show how many homeowners have seen a net increase in their property tax burden because of cuts Christie and lawmakers made to the state's Homestead property tax relief program in 2010.
In
"Expenses are going up for everyone in the county," Gray said. "It's like in every household, costs go up."
"Municipalities are the same way, except it's a bigger family," he said. "Insurance goes up. All the costs go up."
Property tax bills in
"The biggest problem is maintaining the same level of services with 41 less people," he said, "and I think we're doing that."
Christie administration officials focused on Thursday on the slowed rate of growth in the state's average property tax bill.
"By any measure,
Constable also made a pitch for an extension of a cap on the raises that can be awarded to police and firefighter unions when they can't reach an agreement with local officials and have to go to binding arbitration. That cap, also passed in 2010 and set at 2 percent, included a sunset provision and will expire on
Local officials from both parties say the cap has been effective in controlling property taxes.
Woodland Park Mayor
"Theoretically arbitrators can come back with awards for police and fire that are binding that exceed 2 percent, that's not going to be in line with the 2 percent levy," he said. "Municipal officials and county officials are worried about this."
Democratic legislative leaders have yet to take a firm position on the issue, but signaled a vote could be held before the cap expires.
"I'm confident that everyone will be able to come together on a final plan that will allow us to move forward for the benefit of the taxpayers before the expiration deadline," said Assembly Speaker
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