Tax Bills Mailed Middle Extends Tax Deadline to August 31

COURT HOUSE — Around a dozen residents from the Reeds Beach and Stone Harbor Boulevard communities in Middle Township attended a July 16 committee meeting to com-plain about their tax bills.
“I don’t know where I’ll get the money,” said Ruth Golley, a Reeds Beach homeowner since 1958. “I’m afraid I’ll loose my home.”
Golley and other residents argued their bills had increased three, four or even five times what they were last year.
Their assessments in-creased drastically in those communities be-cause their homes are on the waterfront, but in many cases, they said, the water is a detriment. In Reeds Beach the roads flood regularly and on Stone Harbor Boulevard, although they are on the water, many do not have deepwater slips for boats.
If they put their homes on the market, many agreed they wouldn’t get the assessed price.
Property owners throughout the township saw their bills climb following last year’s re-valuation, which had township rateables nearly triple from $1.1 billion to $3.2 billion.
Township Committee heard the residents’ concerns and agreed to extend the grace period for the third quarter tax payments from Aug. 1 to Aug. 31.
Officials said, how-ever, their hands were tied regarding any other help they could offer.
Committeeman Steve Barry said municipal tax accounts for less than a quarter of residents’ bills. He suggested the problem is a product of state law and lies in the state’s method for funding education, which accounts for over 55 percent of township taxpayers’ bills.
Barry said, even a substantial reduction in municipal tax – which would reduce services such as ambulance, police, trash and recreation – would not reduce taxpayers’ bills substantially.
“It’s a broken system,” he said. “Until state officials commit to property tax reform, residents will continue to pay high taxes.”
Tax Assessor Joe Ravitz was at the committee meeting and told the Herald the township was able to give immediate tax relief to 1,100 homeowners.
This state program administered by the township helps senior citizens and their spouses, veterans and their widows, as well as those with disabilities by reducing their burdens by $250.
Ravitz said residents were able to appeal their original assessments to the county tax board until April 19 and still have an opportunity to appeal to the state. He said they had 45 days from the date of the county decision, which was made a few weeks ago.
Tax Collector Sandra Beasley mailed the bills to township residents July 13 and has been fielding phone calls since.
Beasley and her staff offer taxpayers a packet containing phone numbers for other state pro-grams that could help them offset their tax burden.
Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com