SENATE COMMUNITY AND URBAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2212

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 27, 2017

      The Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate, No. 2212.

      This bill, as amended, would prohibit property taxpayers from filing property tax appeals with respect to the property of others.  Under current law, property taxpayers may challenge the assessment or exempt status of their own property as well as that of any other property in their county.  The amended bill would limit property taxpayers to filing property tax appeals concerning their own property.  The amended bill would not disturb the ability of local governments to appeal the assessment or exempt status of any property in the applicable county.

      The amended bill would also clarify that the process for challenging the exempt status of property is the same process for challenging the assessed valuation of property.

      The amended bill also prohibits a taxpayer or taxing district from appealing an assessment or exemption that is granted to another taxpayer and arises from a financial agreement entered into between the taxpayer and the taxing district in which the taxpayer’s property is located.

      As reported by the committee, these amendments make Senate Bill No. 2212 identical to Assembly Bill No. 3888 (1R).

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to provide that a taxpayer or taxing district may not appeal, under subsection a. of N.J.S.A.54:3-21, an assessment or exemption that is granted to another taxpayer and is related to a financial agreement entered into between the taxpayer and the taxing district in which the taxpayer’s property is located.