Hurricane Sandy

Tax Increases In Shore Towns A Certainty After Superstorm Sandy

Budget increases due to storm costs, plummeting ratables make a nasty mix

Jersey Shore residents shouldn't waste any time wondering if their taxes will go up in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. They will. Without a doubt. That was the somber message tax attorney Jeff J. Horn had for members of the Regular Republican Organization of Berkeley Township Monday night. Toms River-based Horn was originally scheduled to speak along with Berkeley Tax Assessor Eric L. Zanetti at the Central Regional Middle School, but Zanetti had to cancel because of bronchitis. Municipal, county and school budgets will rise, as officials struggle with plummeting ratable bases due to the storm which slammed into the Jersey Shore on Oct. 29, he said. "The ripple effect is going to impact all of us," Horn said. "That's the basics. It is …

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Rick Ricky

8:58 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013

johnjcpa, Really...All the schools are over bloated with those who do nothing but walk around in circles. Way to many administrators that are not needed. Is that a joke. Go to board meeting to voice your concerns. It is a waste of time. They are not interested on what residents have to say. They do what they want no matter what. I find most lie a lot and are arrogant. Many districts are spending …   more ›

Brick's Tax Appeals Have Little Budget Impact

About $600K in taxes successfully appealed

Last year, Brick property owners appealed $35,115,150 in taxes. Of that amount, 598 appeals adding up to $653,142 in taxes – about $1,092 each – were granted by the Ocean County tax board. Business Administrator Scott Pezarras said the township uses a reserve account set aside for uncollected tax revenue to minimize the budget impact of tax appeals. In all, he said, the $653,142 figure represents 31 one-hundreths of one percent of the township's $211 million budget. "It sounds like a huge number, but in the grand scheme of things, it's not a huge number," Pezarras said. "As a reflective percentage, it's not so big." Some residents have called on township officials to set aside a separate reserve account just for tax appeals, but Pezarras …

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Betty Ann Fuller

6:21 pm on Monday, January 9, 2012

Scott, thanks for getting back to me. Sorry I didn't answer sooner. BA   more ›