Tax Assessor Bernard Haney and the Deputy Tax Assessor A. Dawn Crozier recovering after spending an hour with clueless Blogfinger reporter.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
Bernard C. Haney, CTA, was going to explain to Blogfinger why the new tax calculation system would be better for everyone in Monmouth County, including Ocean Grove. But in order to get there, Bernie had to time travel to 1988 in the Grove, when the town was a disheveled mess (“bad shape”).
There were about 30 rooming houses, plus run down hotels and multi-family dwellings. Many homes were rented, and there were crime issues including drug sales. The average house was worth about $60,000, and an ocean front condo could be had for $30,000. As noted in a recent Blogfinger review, there were other issues including the mental patients who comprised about 10% of the population and were sleeping on benches and walking around town mumbling. (No, those were not Blogfinger reporters. We weren’t born yet)
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Bernie wasn’t here then, but our review (above) told the story of how a dramatic turnaround developed in the 1990’s, led by the activist OGHOA. Another “huge” factor was the Historic Register designations achieved by a group led by OG historian Ted Bell. Also there was the “renaissance” of the Main Avenue commercial district.
Between the late 1990’s and 2003, Bernie said, “The world had shifted.” By 2003, the crappy rooming houses were gone, an average house was now worth about $500,000 based on the latest re-evaluations, the real estate marketplace was much improved (“sky rocketing,”) and many homes were being converted to single family by motivated and optimistic buyers who had pride of ownership. OG houses became “very desirable.”
So the higher valuations were the good news, but there was an unpleasant flip side:
Many of the homeowners had purchased at very low prices and now their valuations were much higher. Bernie says, “It had become an entirely different place to be.” Home owners found themselves living in an “urban township” with big expenses and a high tax rate. As a result of all this, some homeowners found their taxes rising horribly—some tripling or even quadrupling in locations such as Ocean Avenue or on Ocean Pathway.
So now, in 2014, we have a new tax system which, according to Bernie, will prevent such sudden and dramatic tax changes from happening in the future. The new process begins now in preparation for 2015 with re-evaluations having begun already.
The current goal is for the entire county to be at 100% valuation for the 2015 tax calculations. But in Ocean Grove, we are already at 82-85%, so “it won’t be a heavy lift” to reach 100%. By November, the Township will have a complete but preliminary ratable total, so preliminary tax bills will be ready for 2015.
Tax appeals will be evaluated in the winter before the final tax bills are determined. If someone wins an appeal and gets their taxes lowered, those adjustments will be figured in for the last two quarters of 2015.
For the next 5 years starting 2015, 20% of the houses will be inspected each year, so you can expect a “knock on the door” once every five years. But also, reassessments will be calculated every year by Mr. Haney’s office and adjustments made in valuations according to real estate sales. He doesn’t see any dramatic changes occurring yearly.
Bernie concludes, regarding the new system, that “the benefits outweigh the detriments.” Over the next few years things may get “touchy” as all 52 towns “get up to speed.”
Editor’s note: . You will have a chance to hear Bernie discuss the situation in a month when he appears at the July 26 OGHOA meeting.
Meanwhile make corrections, comments and pose questions here, on Blogfinger. And thanks to Mr Bernard Haney, a gentleman, who was willing to spell it all out for me, knowing he will have to to go over the same stuff again and again. Yikes!!
Oh and lets not forget thanks to the Deputy Assessor A. Dawn Crozier, CTA, who sat in on our meeting, providing wisdom and someone to look at besides Bernie. She and I are on a first initial basis. —-PG
But I had a ball meeting with Bernie and A. Dawn. This song is “After the Ball is Over” by the Uri Caine Ensemble.
I just received my 2014 final/2015 preliminary tax bill…an increase of 7.6%. Perhaps the town will actually see fit to plow my street when it snows this winter. What the heck, they could just knock $50 off my bill each time it snows, and I will shovel the street. Considering my home was reassessed significantly higher (43%) shortly after it was sold to me (it had been completely renovated), I am not expecting another sharp upward move in this figure next year. If there is, I am going to be slightly more angry than I am at this moment.
Please let your readers know that the assessor has ID and business cards and will gladly show same to property owners before entering their homes.
They are not calling in advance. The inspector showed up at my house at 6:00 this evening, unannounced . He was in and out very quickly. It took less than 10 minutes.
OGBess .. The company is doing 12,000 parcels in Neptune, so it is impossible to notify everyone and set up appointments. I posted an article with Paul sometime ago to let OG know that we would be starting in the Grove after Memorial Day .. so they are out there. They will knock on the door and ask to inspect the house, they also have some exterior things that they need to do.
If no one is home they will leave a notice on the door saying that they were there, and you can call the 800 number below. They are very busy, so please be patient and they will call you to set up an appointment. They are working nights and weekends to make it convenient. If you have any issues please feel free to contact my office. Bernie Haney, Assessor
ogbess : Tax assessor is not doing revaluation. Rather it is an independent company( Realty Appraisal ) doing it. Their phone # is : 1-800-841-6740 . I have called twice and was told field inspector would call me to set up an appointment. Never happened. Just trying to make their job easier.
ogbess: I suggest you call 732 988 5200 Ext. 247 or 248 to speak to the tax assessor.
Thanks for this info, Paul. Last time we were re-assessed, we somehow knew when to expect them – I think maybe they made appointments or notified us when they would be coming. Are they going to do that again, or will they show up unannounced?
Thanks Paul, it was a pleasure to spend an hour with you. For a novice I think that the article really portrays our conversation. This is a good precursor to our appearance at the OCHOA on Saturday July 26, 2014. Always a pleasure to visit the Home Owners.