Letter from Mayor Santos Regarding the 3rd and 4th Installment 2010 Tax Bills and the 1st and 2nd Installment 2011 Tax Bills
Dear Kearny Taxpayer:
Your tax bills for the third and fourth quarters of calendar year 2010 and the first and second quarters of calendar year 2011 are enclosed. Please note that the due date for the third quarter tax bill is September 15, 2010. By State law, quarterly payments received after the close of business on September 15, 2010 will incur interest from August 1, 2010. If you would like to pay your taxes in person, please note that the Tax Collector’s Office at Town Hall will be open late until 7 p.m. on September 9, 2010.
As you may know, the Mayor and Council control only 37% of this bill. Most of your property tax payment goes to the Kearny School District, 46%, and the County of Hudson, 17%. The tax for Kearny schools increases $212 for the school year on a residential property with an average assessment. Please note that this school tax was approved by Kearny voters in the election held on April 20, 2010. The County tax levy is flat this year because of the decision not to undertake any new projects funded through the County’s open space tax levy. As to the municipal portion of your bill that pays for Town-provided services such as police, fire, public works, health, recreation, construction code and the public library, there is an increase of 3%. On a residential property with an average assessment, this is an increase of $107 for the year.
The Town Council and I recognize the difficult economic conditions caused by the current recession and the State’s budget deficit. This year, Kearny had to absorb the shock of a $3 million cut in State aid and another round of sharp increases in pension and health costs for its employees. We also recognize that, like in other communities throughout the State, Kearny’s residents know what sacrifice means firsthand, as evidenced by the unemployment rate and the high inventory of houses for sale and apartments for rent in Kearny. In these tough times, we will respond to these circumstances by cutting municipal spending and still delivering quality services. Accordingly, the Council and I have approved a plan that cuts expenses by $2 million in 2011. This austerity plan, which affects all municipal departments, includes unpaid furloughs, demotions in titles and layoffs of employees.
Under these very difficult circumstances, the Council and I are committed to meeting the challenge of tax affordability. We will continue to work hard to find ways to ease the property tax burden while maintaining necessary services.
Very truly yours,
Alberto G. Santos
Mayor