Town To Fight County Revaluation Mandate

The township is under mandate from the county to conduct a revaluation of all property in town and the Township committee is looking to fight the move.

At its workshop meeting on Wednesday, Mayor Jeffrey Foster said the move by the county was unnecessary and would be too costly at a time when budgets are tight.

The committee is expected to pass a resolution at its next meeting authorizing the law firm of state Assemblyman Sean Kean to fight the order.

Committee members said the cost to evaluate all the properties in the township could run more than $1.1 million.

"It's ridiculous,'' Foster said. "It doesn't make any sense. There is no need for this.''

Deputy Mayor Todd Luttman, who heads up the finance committee, said the revaluation is “extremely expensive.’’

He said the township has had numerous tax appeals by residents and businesses with the downturn in the economy, but that he believes they have stabilized, making a revaluation moot.

“We’re going to try to see if we can put that (revaluation) off for as long as possible,’’ Luttman said. “We’re following the process that is set for us.”