I am not sure if you noticed, but a less-wanted item has been raining down on the population too, namely tax increases.
Shortly before Yom Tov, I received a notice of an increase of approximately 12% on the real estate taxes for the last quarter of this year. I assume it is likely that increase will remain for the following tax year as well. That 12% amounts to almost $2000 annually! It isn’t only homeowners that will feel its effect, but tenants too, as landlords pass on some of that increase in the form of higher rent.
The taxes on gasoline in NJ was also raised at almost the same time by over nine cents a gallon and that is after the tolls went up as well! For those of you who commute to work or school, that increase is going to add up pretty quickly.
What I really don’t understand, is the supposed justification for the increases. “A rainy day fund” of two billion dollars was said to be the reason for the real estate tax increase. It seems to me that a pandemic and subsequent need for economic recovery should qualify as a “rainy day” or maybe even more appropriately as a”severe storm”. Most people have suffered some level of significant economic downturn during the pandemic, and have not recovered yet. Is now the time to raise taxes for a future “rainy day’ when we are right in the middle of a storm?
The gas tax increase is for a law that requires a set amount of millions to be in a fund for road construction improvements. There again something sounds off. Now is not the time for widespread road improvements if taxpayers can not afford to pay for them. Blaming it on a law is really a sham. The law should be amended in times of economic distress.
How do such increases just get passed on to the taxpayers with the public not having a say in the matter? Is there a way to begin a petition to pressure those responsible in government to reign in spending and taxes? If these taxes are not met with an outcry then we can rest assured that it will continue to “rain” as the politicians see fit.
Perhaps TLS can lead the charge and begin the petition process?
Thank you!
YL
(TLS welcomes your letters by submitting them to letters@thelakewoodscoop.com)
TLS doesn’t have to lead & begin the process.YOU have to start it ON NOV 3!!!! stop voting for liberals & start voting in conservatives. That’s the only way to make change.
I’m sure someone will comment here that this crazy law was made during a Republican administration but that’s not the point. If people would finally wake up & realize what their vote means then we would be able to have some normalcy but as long as anyone listens & believes these wackos nothing will change
Then to top it off, they already clipped the SALT deductions from your federal taxes… so paying these extra property taxes are not even tax deductible! You have to pay federal tax on the income used to pay your property tax increase!
Right, and who made that law? Our Republican President. Vote him out to get that disgusting tax out of our lives
Vote them out of office even if your candidate loses
a the politicians look at how many people voted and see how many were not happy with the winning candidate
b hopefully the losers will keep on hammering away and eventually make a difference and win
how do you calculate the tax rate- assessed value * the general rate? or effective rate? does anyone know what these rates are for 2020
Drop off your ballots ASAP and VOTE REPUBLICAN!!!!
Complete Column A
Ever heard of the expression there’s no such thing as a free lunch?
Our parents and grandparents knew instinctively. Common sense is no longer so common.