Bill Text: NJ SR94 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Encourages municipalities to engage in more robust efforts to advise taxpayers of property tax deadlines and tax sale timeframes.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-03-13 - Filed with Secretary of State [SR94 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-SR94-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JEFF VAN DREW
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
SYNOPSIS
Encourages municipalities to engage in more robust efforts to advise taxpayers of property tax deadlines and tax sale timeframes.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution encouraging municipalities to engage in community outreach that advises taxpayers of property tax payment deadlines and related timeframes.
Whereas, Municipalities in New Jersey are authorized to impose and collect taxes on real property for the purpose of funding the operation of local units of government; and
Whereas, In the wake of an extraordinary economic crisis that stretched the budget of the average New Jersey family to the breaking point, many taxpayers, including senior citizens on fixed incomes, have been forced to make late payments on property tax obligations, often for the first time in their lives; and
Whereas, New Jersey taxpayers can be harshly penalized for good faith and accidental failures to timely satisfy a single property tax obligation; these penalties include, but are not limited to, substantial fines, interest accruing at rates of up to 18 percent, public notice of delinquency, and even loss of a family home through a tax sale; and
Whereas, Senior citizens, in particular, deserve clear notice, well in advance of deadlines, of all property tax obligations and tax sale events that will soon take place; and
Whereas, Municipalities have a strong interest, and are best positioned, to serve their residents by engaging in broad community outreach aimed at ensuring that property tax collections and tax sales are executed fairly; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House encourages municipalities to engage in broader community outreach efforts in order to properly advise taxpayers, particularly senior citizens, of pertinent deadlines for payment of property taxes and tax sale timeframes.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, the New Jersey Conference of Mayors, and the Tax Collectors and Treasurers Association of New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This resolution encourages municipalities to engage in broader outreach to taxpayers, particularly senior citizens, to inform them about deadlines for the payment of property taxes and tax sale timeframes. Taxpayers face harsh penalties for the delinquent payment of property taxes. If property taxes are not paid, a homeowner can lose their residence at a tax sale. These measures have a particularly adverse impact on senior citizens, who oftentimes live on fixed incomes and face other impediments. Municipalities are best positioned to assess current practices and engage in broad outreach to their residents to advise of important property tax deadlines and events.
