| Author |
Message |
    
Vicdeluca
| | Posted on Monday, January 22, 2001 - 3:51 pm: |     |
This morning the township attorney, tax assessor and I appeared before the Essex County Tax Board and asked for a 30 day extension. After discussion, it was granted by a three to zero vote of the Board. This means that the values of all properties in Maplewood do not have to be reported to the County until February 24th.
This now means that the assessment postcard from the Township that goes out to each property owner will be sent on or about March 1st. Property owners will have 45 days after March 1st to file an appeal to the Essex County Tax Board.
At Tuesday night's meeting the Township Committee and Maplewood Tax Assessor Ed Galante will explain the new timetable and the review steps available over the next 30 days.
On Friday, letters were sent out to property owners who had previously met with Certified Valuations to discuss their assessments. If you received a letter, it included a revised assessment that reflects adjustments made by Certified based on information provided to them about your individual house and adjustments made by the Assessor on a neighborhood basis. On Tuesday night, Mr. Galante will explain the basis for those neighborhood adjustments that were arrived at after a review of sales data between 1998 and 2000 for the entire town.
There are homeowners who did not meet with Certified and did not receive a letter. Neighborhood adjustments may have been made that affect the value of your house. Those adjustments will be reflected in the assessed value listed on the postcard from the Township.
For those residents who meet with Certified over the weekend and will meet with them on Monday through Wednesday of this week, adjustments on your individual property can still be made by Certified before turning over the numbers to the Township.
The Township is working as fast as possible to produce up to date information. On Tuesday night, we will provide an update as to where we are in the process and then hear from residents who want to address the Township Committee. Members of the Committee will also make comments and discuss the issue. |
Rckymtn
| | Posted on Monday, January 22, 2001 - 4:15 pm: | |
Mayor,
Your hard work and diligence is admirable and appreciated. It is clear that you have heard the concerns of the people and have acted on them. I hope you will be getting some sleep sometime soon. |
Livinwestwless
| | Posted on Monday, January 22, 2001 - 4:29 pm: | |
Thank you for this clear, concise information. It is much appreciated those of us who have been in the dark. How nice to see a little light. |
Mag
| | Posted on Monday, January 22, 2001 - 4:50 pm: | |
Mayor DeLuca
Thank you. I appreciate your update. Could you tell me, though, if Mr. Galante's neighborhood review resulted in across-the board increases, as well as reductions, for some neighborhoods? |
Kmk
| | Posted on Monday, January 22, 2001 - 6:32 pm: | |
Mayor DeLuca,
Thank you very much for the update. You answered two of my questions before I had even asked them! |
Crocamo
| | Posted on Monday, January 22, 2001 - 8:57 pm: | |
Mayor, a question for you,
I have some friends who called Certified yesterday, and this morning to set up a mtg with them and Certified said that tomorrow, Tuesday, was the last mtg. date. Above, it seems that Wednesday might be. Please let me know so that I might let them know, so that they have time for some recourse. |
Jham
| | Posted on Monday, January 22, 2001 - 9:19 pm: | |
Vic, It would be very helpful if there's also a representative from Certified at the meeting on Tuesday night. I would like to understand from them the approach/methodology followed to perform the re-valuation. Also I'd like to get clarity around the requirement to factor in 3 years of property values rather than just using 2000 comps (and then adjusted by Ed Gallante as described above). I think a 20 minute overview at the beginning of the meeting would be helpful and answer a lot of questions ahead of time. Thanks. |
Jham
| | Posted on Monday, January 22, 2001 - 9:22 pm: | |
A follow up to my point above -- I met with certified today and while he was helpful in helping me understand a few specifics about my own home (ie, reviewing the property report card) he was unable to address any questions about the overall approach used by Certified, etc. We need this information, thanks. |
Golden
| | Posted on Monday, January 22, 2001 - 11:01 pm: | |
Mayor DeLuca,
I got my second letter from Certified , which resulted in no change in the reval.
I called town hall on 1/22 and was told by a secretary in the assesor's office that Mr Galante would not be responding to any individual homeowner questions, and stated that I should file a direct appeal with the County.
Is this correct ? - also, with the deadlines being extended by 1 month does that mean that we can now get a review from Mr. Galante instead of filing with the County. |
Papa
| | Posted on Monday, January 22, 2001 - 11:51 pm: | |
I also do not want to WASTE my time with Mr. Galante. If the only recourse is with the county, this town part seems like a waste of everyones time . Correct me if I am wrong, but if you have had any contact with c.e., you are wasting your time with the town.....IS THIS CORRECT? |
Aruba18
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 23, 2001 - 4:09 am: | |
Mayor DeLuca-
Thank you for the update. Unfortunately,it does me no good since I called Certified today and was told that their appointment calendar is still full, especially since I live in Maplewood, and that they are not scheduling any more appointments! (They are also VERY rude.) I have lived in this town my entire life, and can remember one other reval time that was just as troublesome - the TC voted that time to roll back the taxes to the previous year. Since this was voluntary, why is this so impossible for us? |
Thomas
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 23, 2001 - 8:45 am: | |
Aruba
Would you elaborare on the reval you remember? Was that the one done in 1981? I'm sure many of us would like hear about what the town was faced with then.
Thanks
Thomas |
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