Tax assessor for Neptune Township. Bernard Haney. Blogfinger photo.
Paul Goldfinger, MD. Editor, Blogfinger.net Ocean Grove, NJ, USA. 3/13/24
From the Neptune United web site: ( neptuneunited.org )
“Below is a spreadsheet containing the research supporting Neptune United’s Press Release dated March 13, 2024 titled “Discrepancies Identified in Tax Assessments- Neptune Residents Deserve Answers.””
Their site contains a chart entitled: “2016-2023. Land Assessments”
We read their press release, and what they are announcing smells like a witch-hunt, but their assertions demand attention.
NU spent months analyzing property taxes in OG where they looked at land assessments for taxable vs tax free properties owned by the Camp Meeting Association.
They found discrepancies where taxable CMA properties are assessed less than comparable non-taxed properties. And also, when land assessments for residences are compared to CMA properties, the CMA results are much lower.
One example refers to the Ocean Pathway, prime ocean front property, which is not a church and which is assessed as zero.
They also found discrepancies in assessed land values for residential homes vs. comparable CMA properties.
This does not seem to be surprising because Neptune Township has always had a cozy relationship with the CMA that influences decisions such as retention of some blue laws, and in recent years, we saw how the CMA persuaded Neptune (2007) to grant “redevelopment zoning ” multi-use status for their valuable North End property which had been zoned according to the Master Plan for single family homes.
So they illegally manipulated that zoning situation, and perhaps NU will take a look at tax assessments of those valuable North End acres about to be turned into condos, hotel, underground garage, and stores. After all, OGNED paid a lot of dough to the CMA, so wouldn’t that have increased the assessment?
And if proper taxes have not been paid at the North End, Neptune should shut down that entire process while the situation is investigated for tax evasion.
So the CMA/OGNED/ Neptune have sown the wind and now will reap the whirlwind if it turns out that that land is under-assessed.
Now that NU is publicizing their provocative findings, they offer no specific advice as to how to tempt the State or local governments to investigate these charges. It’s like talk radio where there are daily accusations, but no action.
Meanwhile, the long term Neptune assessor, Bernie Haney, is hiding under his desk, refusing to respond to these findings.
AL JOLSON: