Tale of 2 Tax Bills: Little Silver, Oceanport Growth Compared to State Average
Oceanport's average tax bill percentage increase was well below the state's average; Little Silver's was almost double.
The average Oceanport and Little Silver taxpayer pays more in property taxes than the statewide average, but Oceanport's average tax bill percentage increase was well below the state's average in 2012.
In contrast, the average Little Silver taxpayer's bill increase was almost double the statewide average.
The data is contained within a Star Ledger analysis that looked at the average bills in all 566 municipalities in the state in 2012, two years after the Legislature and Gov. Chris Christie enacted a hard 2 percent cap on local budget growth.
Oceanport had an average $9,221.06 tax bill in 2012, as compared to the $7,870.28 state average. However, the analysis found that the statewide average growth over 2011 was 1.7, with Oceanport's average bill increasing only 0.5 percent.
Little Silver far outstripped the average tax bill statewide, with residents paying $11,903.23 and up 3 percent over the previous year compared to the statewide increase of 1.7 percent.
Little Silver taxpayers also paid more for the local school bill than the statewide average, paying on average $7,367.51 compared to the state average of $4,120.16. The average Oceanport taxpayer paid $5,322.23 in local school taxes in 2012.
The analysis shows only 61 municipalities had a higher total bill than Little Silver did in 2012 while 149 municipalities paid more on average in 2012 than Oceanport taxpayers.
The Star-Ledger noted that property taxes statewide rose 2.4 percent in 2011, the first year Christie’s 2 percent cap was in effect. But the trend of lower increases could be reversed because of Hurricane Sandy costs, according to the report.
| TOWN | AVERAGE COUNTY BILL | AVERAGE MUNICIPAL BILL | AVERAGE SCHOOL BILL | AVERAGE TOTAL BILL | PERCENT CHANGE FROM 2011 |
| Little Silver |
$1,887.23 | $2,648.49 | $7,367.51 | $11,903.23 | +3.0% |
| Oceanport |
$1,521.69 | $2,377.15 | $5,322.23 | $9,221.06 | +0.5% |
| STATE AVERAGE | $1,425.45 | $2,324.66 | $4,120.16 | $7,870.28 | +1.7% |
Dentss Dunnagun
3:00 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Little Silver is a rich community ,we spend on our kids freely without hesitation ,we are so unfazed by our taxes we welcomed a reassessment which sent up assessments 20% to 30% Waterfront 50% to 85%...when your town is home to the to 1%,cost per pupil is meaningless Our kids want for nothing isn't that the way it should be ....
Michael
5:22 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
I live in Little Silver waterfront as well but the funny thing about your comment is that you can truly tell ignorant New Money from Old Money. Go back to NYC where you belong. Probably the wife of a day trader. Truly Laughable
Fred M
7:30 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Comments like yours is why Little Silver People have been stereotyped . You speak for every person in Little Silver? It's obvious you never worked a day in your life.
Juan Rodrigez
4:44 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Great news! Lets have a parade.....
Maureen Hourigan
9:21 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Democrat, Republican, it doesn't matter they all want to keep their jobs and add new government jobs so they have more power over you with your money. The taxes will never go down unless everyone moves out and there is no one left to pay their salaries.
Mary Fox
1:03 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
I'm "assuming" that first comment was tongue in cheek, ....please? However, either way, I have no children!! I missed last year's deadline but definitely intend to dispute my property taxes this year. Maybe if I had kids, didn't worry all the time about getting hit by speeding cars, or try to ignore and/or clean up the trash on public property I wouldn't feel so bad.
Hazel Kelly
4:05 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Well, my husband and i are retired and are worrying about whether we will be able to afford to stay here in Little Silver after the reassessment. I have lived in the town since 1972 and it makes me sad