S1747

An Act concerning the administration of the assessment of real property, and amending and repealing various parts of the statutory law.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. Section 19 of P.L.1979, c.499 (C.54:3-5.1) is amended to read as follows:

19. a. The president of each county board of taxation shall [annually on or before August 15] make a tax appeal report to the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury[, except that the president of a county board of taxation participating in the demonstration program established in section 4 of P.L.2013, c.15 (C.54:1-104), the president of a county board of taxation in a county operating under the "Property Tax Assessment Reform Act," P.L.2009, c.118 (C.54:1-86 et seq.), and the president of a county board of taxation of a county that has adopted, by resolution, the provisions of section 1 of P.L.2018, c.94
(C.54:1-105), shall make this required report to the director] annually on or before June 1. Such report shall be in such form as shall be prescribed by the director and shall contain such information and statistics as may be appropriate to demonstrate for the immediately preceding [3-month] four month period during which tax appeals were heard by the county board: the total number of appeals filed with the county board; the disposition of the various appeals disposed of during that period; the character of appeals filed with regard to the classification of properties appealed; the total amount of assessments involved in those appeals; the number of appeals filed in each filing fee category during that period; and, the total amount of reductions and increases of assessed valuation granted by the board during that period.

b. The Director of the Division of Taxation shall annually review the reports required under subsection a. of this section, and shall include a summary of the information contained therein in the division's annual report.

(cf: P.L.2018, c.94, s.2)

2. R.S.54:3-17 is amended to read as follows:

54:3-17. Each county tax administrator shall annually ascertain and determine, according to his best knowledge and information, the general ratio or percentage of true value at which the real property of each taxing district is in fact assessed according to the tax lists laid before the board. On or before [March 1] May 15 of each year, [or on or before May 15 in the case of a county board of taxation participating in the demonstration program established in section 4 of P.L.2013, c.15 (C.54:1-104),] the county tax administrator[,] or the county assessor in a county operating under the "Property Tax Assessment Reform Act," P.L.2009, c.118 (C.54:1-86 et seq.), and the county tax administrator in a county that has adopted, by resolution, the provisions of section 1 of P.L.2018, c.94 (C.54:1-105)] shall prepare and submit to the county board an equalization table showing, for each district, the following items:

(a) The percentage level established pursuant to law for expressing the taxable value of real property in the county;

(b) The aggregate assessed value of the real property, exclusive of class II railroad property;

(c) The ratio of aggregate assessed to aggregate true value of the real property, exclusive of class II railroad property;

(d) The aggregate true value of the real property, exclusive of class II railroad property;

(e) The amount by which the valuation in item (b) should be increased or decreased in order to correspond to item (d);

(f) The aggregate assessed value of machinery implements and equipment and all other personal property used in business;

(g) The aggregate true value of machinery, implements and equipment and all other personal property used in business;

(h) The aggregate equalized valuation of machinery, implements and equipment and all other personal property used in business, computed by multiplying the aggregate true value thereof by the lower of (1) that percentage level established pursuant to law for expressing the taxable value of real property in the county, or (2) the average ratio of assessed to true value of real property as promulgated by the director on October 1 of the pretax year, pursuant to chapter 86, laws of 1954, for State school aid purposes, as the same may have been modified by the Tax Court;

(i) The amount by which the valuation in item (f) should be increased or decreased in order to correspond to item (h).

A copy of the table shall be mailed to the assessor of each district, and to the Division of Taxation, and be posted at the courthouse[, not later than March 1, or] not later than May 15 [in the cases of a county board of taxation participating in the demonstration program established in section 4 of P.L.2013, c.15 (C.54:1-104), a county operating under the "Property Tax Assessment Reform Act, P.L.2009, c.118 (C.54:1-86 et seq.), and a county board of taxation in a county that has adopted, by resolution, the provisions of section 1 of P.L.2018, c.94 (C.54:1-105)].

(cf: P.L.2018, c.94, s.3)

3. R.S.54:3-18 is amended to read as follows:

54:3-18. The county board of taxation in each county shall meet annually for the purpose of reviewing the equalization table prepared pursuant to R.S.54:3-17 with respect to the several taxing districts of the county. At the meeting a hearing shall be given to the assessors and representatives of the governing bodies of the various taxing districts for the purpose of determining the accuracy of the ratios and valuations of property as shown in the equalization table, and the board shall confirm or revise the table in accordance with the facts. The hearings may be adjourned from time to time but the equalization shall be completed [before March 10, or] not later than May 25 [in the cases of a county board of taxation participating in the demonstration program established in section 4 of P.L.2013, c.15 (C.54:1-104), a county board of taxation of a county operating under the "Property Tax Assessment Reform Act," P.L.2009, c.118 (C.54:1-86 et seq.), and a county board of taxation of a county that has adopted, by resolution, the provisions of section 1 of P.L.2018, c.94 (C.54:1-105)]. At the first hearing any taxing district may object to the ratio or valuation fixed for any other district, but no increase in any valuation as shown in the table shall be made by the board without giving a hearing, after 3 days' notice, to the governing body and assessor of the taxing district affected.

(cf: P.L.2018, c.94, s.4)

4. R.S.54:3-21 is amended to tread as follows:

54:3-21. a. [(1) Except as provided in subsection b. of this section a taxpayer feeling aggrieved by the assessed valuation or exempt status of the taxpayer's property or a taxing district which may feel discriminated against by the assessed valuation or exempt status of property in the taxing district, or by the assessed valuation or exempt status of property in another taxing district in the county, may on or before April 1, or 45 days from the date the bulk mailing of notification of assessment is completed in the taxing district, whichever is later, appeal to the county board of taxation by filing with it a petition of appeal; provided, however, that any such taxpayer or taxing district may on or before April 1, or 45 days from the date the bulk mailing of notification of assessment is completed in the taxing district, whichever is later, file a complaint directly with the Tax Court, if the assessed valuation of the property subject to the appeal exceeds $1,000,000. In a taxing district where a municipal-wide revaluation or municipal-wide reassessment has been implemented, a taxpayer or a taxing district may appeal before or on May 1 to the county board of taxation by filing with it a petition of appeal or, if the assessed valuation of the property subject to the appeal exceeds $1,000,000, by filing a complaint directly with the State Tax Court. Within ten days of the completion of the bulk mailing of notification of assessment, the assessor of the taxing district shall file with the county board of taxation a certification setting forth the date on which the bulk mailing was completed. If a county board of taxation completes the bulk mailing of notification of assessment, the tax administrator of the county board of taxation shall within ten days of the completion of the bulk mailing prepare and keep on file a certification setting forth the date on which the bulk mailing was completed. A taxpayer shall have 45 days to file an appeal upon the issuance of a notification of a change in assessment. An appeal to the Tax Court by one party in a case in which the Tax Court has jurisdiction shall establish jurisdiction over the entire matter in the Tax Court. All appeals to the Tax Court hereunder shall be in accordance with the provisions of the State Uniform Tax Procedure Law, R.S.54:48-1 et seq.

If a petition of appeal or a complaint is filed on April 1 or during the 19 days next preceding April 1, a taxpayer or a taxing district shall have 20 days from the date of service of the petition or complaint to file a cross-petition of appeal with a county board of taxation or a counterclaim with the Tax Court, as appropriate.

(2) With respect to property located in a county participating in the demonstration program established in section 4 of P.L.2013, c.15 (C.54:1-104), a property located in a county operating under the "Property Tax Assessment Reform Act," P.L.2009, c.118 (C.54:1-86 et seq.), or a property located in a county that has adopted, by resolution, the provisions of section 1 of P.L.2018, c.94 (C.54:1-105), and except as provided in subsection b. of this section, a] A taxpayer feeling aggrieved by the assessed valuation or exempt status of the taxpayer's property or a taxing district which may feel discriminated against by the assessed valuation or exempt status of property in the taxing district, or by the assessed valuation or exempt status of property in another taxing district in the county, may on or before January 15, or 45 days from the date the bulk mailing of notification of assessment is completed in the taxing district, whichever date is later, appeal to the county board of taxation by filing with it a petition of appeal; provided, however, that any such taxpayer, or taxing district, may on or before [April 1] January 15, or 45 days from the date the bulk mailing of notification of assessment is completed in the taxing district, whichever date is later, file a complaint directly with the Tax Court, if the assessed valuation of the property subject to the appeal exceeds $1,000,000.

If a petition of appeal is filed to the county board of taxation on January 15 or during the 19 days next preceding January 15, or a complaint is filed with the Tax Court on [April 1] January 15 or during the 19 days next preceding [April 1] January 15, a taxpayer or a taxing district shall have 20 days from the date of service of the petition or complaint to file a cross-petition of appeal with a county board of taxation or a counterclaim with the Tax Court, as appropriate.

Within 10 days of the completion of the bulk mailing of notification of assessment, the assessor of the taxing district shall file with the county board of taxation a certification setting forth the date on which the bulk mailing was completed. If a county board of taxation completes the bulk mailing of notification of assessment, the tax administrator of the county board of taxation shall within 10 days of the completion of the bulk mailing prepare and keep on file a certification setting forth the date on which the bulk mailing was completed. A taxpayer shall have 45 days to file an appeal upon the issuance of a notification of a change in assessment. An appeal to the Tax Court by one party in a case in which the Tax Court has jurisdiction shall establish jurisdiction over the entire matter in the Tax Court. All appeals to the Tax Court hereunder shall be in accordance with the provisions of the State Uniform Tax Procedure Law, R.S.54:48-1 et seq.

b. No taxpayer or taxing district shall be entitled to appeal either an assessment or an exemption or both that is based on a financial agreement subject to the provisions of the "Long Term Tax Exemption Law" under the appeals process set forth in subsection a. of this section.

c. [In the case of a municipality located in a county wherein the county board of taxation is participating in the demonstration program established in section 4 of the "Real Property Assessment Demonstration Program," P.L.2013, c.15 (C.54:1-104), absent] Absent good cause, a property owner shall not be entitled to appeal an assessment on a parcel of real property if the assessor's or the county board of taxation's request to internally inspect the property , made after the appeal is filed, has been refused by the property owner.

(cf: P.L.2021, c.136, s.2)

5. Section 10 of P.L.2017, c.306 (C.54:4-23b) is amended to read as follows:

10. a. Regarding inspections of real property for purposes of a municipal-wide reassessment pursuant to R.S.54:4-23, [in the case of a municipality located in a county wherein the county board of taxation is participating in the demonstration program established in section 4 of the "Real Property Assessment Demonstration Program," P.L.2013, c.15 (C.54:1-104), in the case of a county operating under the "Property Tax Assessment Reform Act," P.L.2009, c.118 (C.54:1-86 et seq.), and in the case of a county that has adopted, by resolution, the provisions of section 1 of P.L.2018, c.94 (C.54:1-105),] the assessor shall make three good-faith attempts to physically inspect the interior of each of the properties in the municipality not later than December 31 of the year immediately preceding the year of the implementation of the proposed district-wide reassessment. Such inspections may be performed in an ongoing assessment cycle. If, after the third attempt to inspect the interior of the premises, access to the interior of the premises has not been granted by the property owner, the assessor shall assess the property using other observations and sources, including information on the property record card maintained by the assessor.

As used in this section, "good-faith attempt to physically inspect" shall mean that the assessor, an employee of the municipality acting on behalf of the assessor, or a representative of a revaluation company or other company hired by the municipality to provide internal inspection services, shall physically arrive at the parcel of real property and request entry to the interior of the property. If that person is unable to gain entry to the property to perform an interior inspection, the person shall complete the exterior inspection and shall leave a notice affixed to the front door of the property stating that an attempt was made to inspect the interior of the property, with the appropriate contact information prominently displayed on the notice.

b. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, in any municipality implementing a revaluation program approved by the Director of the Division of Taxation pursuant to P.L.1971, c.424 (C.54:1-35.35 et seq.), district-wide reassessment program, compliance plan, or other form of municipal-wide assessment review that requires the revision of all property assessments to current market value, that is approved by the county board of taxation at the taxpayer's discretion, the assessor may perform the internal inspections described in subsection a. of this section in a virtual manner, utilizing smartphone technology and protocols adopted by the county board of taxation. No such video recordings may be retained by the assessor. This virtual internal inspection alternative shall be available to all assessment function inspections within the county, including, but not limited to, revaluations, reassessments, the annual reassessment, and inspections related to added or omitted assessments.

(cf: P.L.2021, c.136, s.1)

6. R.S.54:4-35 is amended to read as follows:

54:4-35. a. [Except as provided in subsection b. of this section, the assessor shall determine his taxable valuations of real property as of October 1 in each year and shall complete the preparation of his assessment list by January 10 following, on which date he shall attend before the county board of taxation and file with the board his complete assessment list, and a true copy thereof, to be called the assessor's duplicate. Such list and duplicate shall include the assessments of personal property reported or determined pursuant to this chapter. They shall be properly made up in such manner and form required by the Director of the Division of Taxation pursuant to R.S.54:4-26, to be examined, revised and corrected by the board as provided by law.] (Deleted by amendment, P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)

After all of the assessment appeals filed with the county tax board have been decided, the assessor shall complete the preparation of the final assessment list by May 5, on which date the assessor shall appear before the county board of taxation and shall file with the board his completed final assessment list, and a true copy of the final assessment list, which true copy shall be the assessor's duplicate. The final assessment and the assessor's duplicate shall include the assessments of personal property reported or determined pursuant to the requirements of chapter 4 of Title 54 of the Revised Statutes, in such manner and form as shall be required by the director pursuant to R.S.54:4-26, and shall be examined, revised and corrected by the board as provided by law.

(cf: P.L.2018, c.94, s.7)

7. Section 1 of P.L.1945, c.260 (C.54:4-35.1) is amended to read as follows:

1. a. [When any parcel of real property contains any building or other structure which has been destroyed, consumed by fire, demolished, or altered in such a way that its value has materially depreciated, either intentionally or by the action of storm, fire, cyclone, tornado, or earthquake, or other casualty, which depreciation of value occurred after October 1 in any year and before January 1 of the following year, the assessor shall, upon notice thereof being given to him by the property owner prior to January 10 of that year, and after examination and inquiry, determine the value of such parcel of real property as of that January 1, and assess the same according to such value.] (Deleted by amendment, P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)

b. [(1) In the case of a county participating in the demonstration program established by section 4 of P.L.2013, c.15 (C.54:1-104), a county operating under the "Property Tax Assessment Reform Act," P.L.2009, c.118 (C.54:1-86 et seq.), and a county that has adopted, by resolution, the provisions of section 1 of P.L.2018, c.94
(C.54:1-105), when] When any parcel of real property contains any building or other structure which has been destroyed, consumed by fire, demolished, or altered in such a way that its value has materially depreciated, either intentionally or by the action of storm, fire, cyclone, tornado, or earthquake, or other casualty, which depreciation of value occurred after October 1 in any year and before May 1 of the following year, the assessor shall, upon notice thereof being given to him by the property owner prior to May 3 of that year, and after examination and inquiry, determine the value of the parcel of real property as of that May 1, and assess the same according to such value within the final tax list delivered to the county board of taxation on or before May 5 of that year.

(2) To properly capture the value of the building or structure from January 1 to the date of the depreciation of the building or structure, the assessor's added assessment list shall include an improvement value that reflects the prorated value of the building or structure as of January 1 for the number of days prior to the date of the depreciation of the building or structure.

(cf: P.L.2021, c.136, s.7)

8. R.S.54:4-38 is amended to read as follows:

54:4-38. a. [Except as provided in subsection b. of this section, every assessor, at least ten days before filing the complete assessment list and duplicate with the county board of taxation, and before annexing thereto his affidavit as required in section 54:4-36 of this title, shall notify each taxpayer of the current assessment and preceding year's taxes and give public notice by advertisement in at least one newspaper circulating within his taxing district of a time and place when and where the assessment list may be inspected by any taxpayer for the purpose of enabling the taxpayer to ascertain what assessments have been made against him or his property and to confer informally with the assessor as to the correctness of the assessments, so that any errors may be corrected before the filing of the assessment list and duplicate. Thereafter, the assessor shall notify each taxpayer by mail within 30 days of any change to the assessment. This notification of change of assessment shall contain the prior assessment and the current assessment. Any notice issued by the assessor shall contain information instructing taxpayers on how to appeal their assessment along with the deadline to file an appeal, printed in boldface type.] (Deleted by amendment, P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)

b. [In the case of a municipality located in a county where the county board of taxation is participating in the demonstration program established in section 4 of P.L.2013, c.15 (C.54:1-104), in the case of a county operating under the "Property Tax Assessment Reform Act," P.L.2009, c.118 (C.54:1-86 et seq.), and in the case of a municipality located in a county that has adopted, by resolution, the provisions of section 1 of P.L.2018, c.94 (C.54:1-105), every] On or before November 1 of the pretax year, every assessor[, before filing the preliminary assessment list with the county board of taxation pursuant to subsection b. of R.S.54:4-35,] shall [notify each taxpayer of the preliminary assessment and preceding year's taxes and] give public notice by advertisement in at least one newspaper circulating within his taxing district of a time and place when and where the preliminary assessment list may be inspected by any taxpayer for the purpose of enabling the taxpayer to ascertain what assessments have been made against the taxpayer or the taxpayer's property. [Thereafter, the assessor shall notify each taxpayer by mail within 30 days of any change to the assessment. This notification of change of assessment shall contain the prior assessment and the current assessment. Any notice issued by the assessor shall contain information instructing taxpayers on how to appeal their assessment along with the deadline to file an appeal, printed in boldface type.]

The notification required by this section shall satisfy any notice requirement to a property owner [in a municipality located in a county wherein the county board of taxation is participating in the "Real Property Assessment Demonstration Program" established in section 4 of P.L.2013, c.15 (C.54:1-104)] concerning the assessment of that property owner's preliminary assessment value for the tax year.

(cf: P.L.2021, c.136, s.5)

9. Section 32 of P.L.1991, c.75 (C.54:4-38.1) is amended to read as follows:

32. a. [Except as provided in subsection b. of this section, every assessor, prior to February 1, shall notify by mail each taxpayer of the current assessment and preceding year's taxes. Thereafter, the assessor or county board of taxation shall notify each taxpayer by mail within 30 days of any change to the assessment. This notification of change of assessment shall contain the prior assessment and the current assessment. The director shall establish the form of notice of assessment and change of assessment. Any notice issued by the assessor or county board of taxation shall contain information instructing taxpayers on how to appeal their assessment along with the deadline to file an appeal, printed in boldface type.] (Deleted by amendment, P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)

b. [In the case of a municipality located in a county where the county board of taxation is participating in the demonstration program established in section 4 of P.L.2013, c.15 (C.54:1-104), in the case of a county operating under the "Property Tax Assessment Reform Act," P.L.2009, c.118 (C.54:1-86 et seq.) and in the case of a municipality located in a county that has adopted, by resolution, the provisions of section 1 of P.L.2018, c.94 (C.54:1-105), every] Every assessor, on or before November 15 of the pretax year, shall notify by mail each taxpayer of the preliminary assessment and preceding year's taxes. Thereafter, the assessor or county board of taxation shall notify each taxpayer by mail within 30 days of any change to the original preliminary assessment [which has occurred as the result of a municipal-wide revaluation or reassessment of real property within the municipality]. This notification of change of assessment shall contain the [prior] original preliminary assessment and the [current] revised preliminary assessment. The director shall establish the form of notice of assessment and change of assessment. Any notice issued by the assessor or county board of taxation shall contain information instructing taxpayers on how to appeal their assessment along with the deadline to file an appeal, printed in boldface type. The notification required by this section shall satisfy any notice requirement to a property owner [in a municipality located in a county wherein the county board of taxation is participating in the "Real Property Assessment Demonstration Program" established in section 4 of P.L.2013, c.15 (C.54:1-104)] concerning the assessment of that property owner's preliminary assessment value for the tax year.

c. The county board of taxation [of the county participating in the real property assessment program established in section 4 of the "Real Property Assessment Demonstration Program," P.L.2013, c.15 (C.54:1-104)] shall make the preliminary data electronically accessible to the public by posting the data in searchable form on the county's website, or other county’s free website via a shared services agreement, not later than [15] five business days after the submission of the preliminary data.

(cf: P.L.2021, c.136, s.6)

10. R.S.54:4-52 is amended to read as follows:

54:4-52. The county board of taxation shall[, on or before May 20, or] on or before May 31 [in the case of a county board of taxation participating in the demonstration program established in section 4 of P.L.2013, c.15 (C.54:1-104), in the case of a county operating under the "Property Tax Assessment Reform Act," P.L.2009, c.118 (C.54:1-86 et seq.), and in the case of a municipality located in a county that has adopted, by resolution, the provisions of section 1 of P.L.2018, c.94 (C.54:1-105)], fill out a table of aggregates copied from the duplicates of the several assessors and the certifications of the Director of the Division of Taxation relating to second-class railroad property, and enumerating the following items:

(1) The total number of acres and lots assessed;

(2) The value of the land assessed;

(3) The value of the improvements thereon assessed;

(4) The total value of the land and improvements assessed, including:

a. Second-class railroad property;

b. All other real property.

(5) The value of the personal property assessed, stating in separate columns:

a. Value of household goods and chattels assessed;

b. Value of farm stock and machinery assessed;

c. Value of stocks in trade, materials used in manufacture and other personal property assessed under section 54:4-11;

d. Value of all other tangible personal property used in business assessed.

(6) Deductions allowed, stated in separate columns:

a. Household goods and other exemptions under the provisions of section 54:4-3.16 of this Title;

b. Property exempted under section 54:4-3.12 of this Title.

(7) The net valuation taxable;

(8) Amounts deducted under the provisions of sections 54:4-49 and 54:4-53 of this Title or any other similar law (adjustments resulting from prior appeals);

(9) Amounts added under any of the laws mentioned in subdivision 8 of this section (like adjustments);

(10) Amounts added for equalization under the provisions of sections 54:3-17 to 54:3-19 of this Title;

(11) Amounts deducted for equalization under the provisions of sections 54:3-17 to 54:3-19 of this Title;

(12) Net valuation on which county, State and State school taxes are apportioned;

(13) The number of polls assessed;

(14) The amount of dog taxes assessed;

(15) The property exempt from taxation under the following special classifications:

a. Public school property;

b. Other school property;

c. Public property;

d. Church and charitable property;

e. Cemeteries and graveyards;

f. Other exemptions not included in foregoing classifications subdivided showing exemptions of real property and exemptions of personal property;

g. The total amount of exempt property.

(16) State road tax;

(17) State school tax;

(18) County taxes apportioned, exclusive of bank stock taxes;

(19) Local taxes to be raised, exclusive of bank stock taxes, subdivided as follows:

a. District school tax;

b. Other local taxes.

(20) Total amount of miscellaneous revenues, including surplus revenue appropriated, for the support of the taxing district budget, which, for a municipality operating under the State fiscal year, shall be the amounts for the fiscal year ending June 30 of the year in which the table is prepared;

(21) District court taxes;

(22) Library tax;

(23) Bank stock taxes due taxing district;

(24) Tax rate for local taxing purposes to be known as general tax rate to apply per $100.00 of valuation, which general tax rate shall be rounded up to the nearest one-half penny after receipt in any year of a municipal resolution submitted to the county tax board on or before April 1 of that tax year requesting that the general tax rate be rounded up to the nearest one-half penny.

For municipalities operating under the State fiscal year, the amount for local municipal purposes shall be the amount as certified pursuant to section 16 of P.L.1994, c.72 (C.40A:4-12.1). The table shall also include a footnote showing the amount raised by taxation for municipal purposes as shown in the State fiscal year budget ending June 30 of the year the table is prepared.

In addition to the above such other matters may be added, or such changes in the foregoing items may be made, as may from time to time be directed by the Director of the Division of Taxation. The forms for filling out tables of aggregates shall be prescribed by the director and sent by him to the county treasurers of the several counties to be by them transmitted to the county board of taxation. Such table of aggregates shall be correctly added by columns and shall be signed by the members of the county board of taxation and shall within three days thereafter be transmitted to the county treasurer who shall file the same and forthwith cause it to be printed in its entirety and shall transmit certified copy of same to the Director of the Division of Taxation, the State Auditor, the Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs, the clerk of the board of freeholders, and the clerk of each municipality in the county.

(cf: P.L.2018, c.94, s.10)

11. (New section) The State Treasurer, in consultation with the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, shall adopt such rules and regulations as may be necessary to effectuate the provisions of this act pursuant to the provisions of the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.).

12. Sections 1 and 11 of P.L.2018, c.94 (C.54:1-105 and
C.54:1-106) are repealed.

13. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill would revise the current dates for the administration of the assessment of real property in order to create a more accurate process for that essential assessment function throughout the entire State. The provisions of the bill specifically address the systemic costs which result from the losses due to successful assessment appeals by property owners, which reduce the property tax base, and which require municipalities to refund large amounts of property taxes collected from those property owners prior to the successful assessment appeal, which lowers their assessment, and thereby lowers the amount of property taxes due and payable from those property owners.

Under current law, every municipal tax assessor files the municipality’s tax list with the county board of taxation, which subsequently sets the local tax rates. Assessment appeals are filed by property owners on April 1 of each year, or on May 1 in the case of a municipality that has undergone a municipal-wide revaluation or reassessment of real property. Appeals are heard by the county tax board and generally decided in most, if not all, cases by the end of July. Successful appeals that late in the tax year result in reduced assessments, which results in a reduced municipal tax base, which then results in the under-collection of property taxes to fund current year operations. The bill proposes the re-scheduling of the property assessment appeal process to dates prior to the calculation of the local property tax rate, which would allow for a more accurate local property tax rate to reflect local budgetary needs and the true value of the tax base that provides the property tax revenue to fund the local budget.

The following chart sets forth the current statutory dates relative to the individual functions that comprise the real property assessment process, and the proposed dates for those functions under the bill:

*DATES RELATIVE TO CERTIFICATION OF THE TAX LIST, ASSESSMENT APPEALS, AND THE CALCULATION OF LOCAL TAX RATES IN ALL MUNICIPALITIES*
*Description of Function*	*Current Date*	*Proposed Date*
Assessing Date	October 1 of pre-tax year	October 1 of pre-tax year
Certification of Preliminary Assessment	N/A	November 1 of pre-tax year
Notification of Assessment Postcards	February 1	November 15 of pre-tax year
Assessment Appeal Filing Deadline	April 1; May 1 in municipalities wherein revaluation of real property has occurred	January 15
Assessment Appeals Heard	May, June and July	February, March and April
Tax List Filed	January 10	May 5
County Preliminary Equalization	March 10	May 15
County Final Equalization	March 10	May 25
Municipal Budget to Tax Board	March 31	May 15
County Budget to Tax Board	April 1	May 15
School Budget to Tax Board	May 19	May 15
Certified Tax Rates	May 20	May 31
Tax Duplicates	June 3	June 3
Tax Bills	June 14	June 14

The assessment calendar proposed under this bill has been successfully implemented in Monmouth County since 2014, Gloucester County since 2018, and Burlington County since 2021. The calendar has been shown to provide municipalities in these counties with more financial certainty. By notifying property owners of their property tax assessments and deciding appeals of those assessments at earlier times, municipalities can better ascertain their revenues to ensure the integrity of their budgets throughout the fiscal year.