Politics & Government
Berkeley Heights Taxes Higher Than State and County Averages
Both towns also saw a higher percentage tax increase for 2012 than the state average.
Homeowners in Berkeley Heights are paying higher property taxes than both the state and county averages , according to a statewide chart published by the Star-Ledger.
The average total Berkeley Heights tax bill comes in at $11,105.36, compared with the statewide average of $7,870.28.
While the statewide average property tax increase was 1.7 percent for 2012, the smallest bump in more than two decades, Berkeley Heights residents saw a 0.7 percent tax increase for 2012 . Across Union County, the average percent increase for 2012 was 2.1 percent. Mountainside had the highest percentage increase for 2012 (5.6 percent), while Winfield had the biggest decrease for 2012 (-0.8 percent).
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Compared to the rest of Union County, Berkeley Heights had a relatively high total bill compared to the county average, ranking fifth out of 21 for total highest bill in the county.
Residents in Summit (1), Westfield (2) and New Providence (3) paid the highest average total tax bill in the county, while residents in Winfield (21), Kenilworth (20) and Plainfield (19) paid the lowest.
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The Star-Ledger noted that property taxes statewide rose 2.4 percent in 2011, the first year Christie’s two percent cap was in effect. But the trend of lower increases could be reversed because of Hurricane Sandy, according to the report.
In Manasquan, which suffered some of the worst damage from Sandy, local officials said the cost of rebuilding might drive up tax rates by at least 20 percent, the report said. To top it off, the tax base shrank as properties were washed away, according to the report. Towns are allowed to exceed the two percent limit on property tax collections for emergencies such as Sandy.
Percent Change from 2011 Berkeley Heights
$1,942.70$2,474.34$4,792.82$9,209.86
0.7% County Average$1,828.06$2,954.38$4,732.66$9,515.09
2.1% Statewide Average
$1,425.45$2,324.66$4,120.16$7,870.28
1.7%
UNION COUNTY
Average County Bill
Average Municipal Bill
Average School Bill
Average Total Bill
Rank of Total Bill in CountyPercent Change from 2011
Berkeley Heights
$2,580.35
$2,050.60
$6,474.40
$11,105.36
50.7%
Clark
$1,942.70 $2,474.34 $4,792.82 $9,209.86 103.5%
Cranford
$2,060.72 $2,472.99 $5,369.98 $9,903.70 9 3.6% Elizabeth $1,231.09 $4,743.14 $1,871.93 $7,846.16 17 -0.5% Fanwood $1,937.83 $2,218.57 $6,280.15 $10,436.55 6 1.2% Garwood $1,710.53 $3,077.43 $3,961.33 $8,749.30 12 4.3% Hillside $1,167.12 $3,989.62 $3,513.51 $8,670.25 13 1.8% Kenilworth $1,520.31 $2,269.26 $3,548.28 $7,337.85 20 4.4% Linden $1,284.72 $2,621.57 $3,967.24 $7,873.53 15 1.7% Mountainside $2,677.69 $2,768.10 $4,743.20 $10,188.99 7 5.6% New Providence $2,560.99 $2,684.54 $7,066.03 $12,311.56 3 2.5% Plainfield $1,141.75 $4,579.09 $2,094.72 $7,815.57 19 -0.4% Rahway $1,303.43 $3,057.40 $3,465.96 $7,826.79 18 1.1% Roselle $1,042.55 $4,416.74 $3,597.64 $9,056.93 11 -0.6% Roselle Park $1,303.45 $2,815.30 $4,486.97 $8,605.73 14 1.5% Scotch Plains $2,248.72 $1,966.49 $7,304.99 $11,520.19 4 2.4% Springfield $1,876.85 $3,220.94 $4,910.17 $10,007.95 8 2.5% Summit $4,132.33 $3,643.99 $8,274.22 $16,050.53 1 3.4% Union $1,378.43 $2,878.21 $3,604.53 $7,861.16 16 3.3% Westfield $3,204.80 $2,657.55 $8,466.72 $14,329.07 2 3.1% Winfield $82.83 $1,436.10 $1,591.03 $3,109.97 21 -0.8% COUNTY AVERAGE $1,828.06 $2,954.38 $4,732.66 $9,515.09 – 2.1%The data above, which divides property tax bills by municipal, county and public education costs, was compiled from numbers released by the state Department of Treasury and county boards of taxation.
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