N.J. Property Taxes Up By $700M In 2016

Boy, that map of New Jersey does show a pretty large sea of red and yellow, and very little green.

That's not a good thing, because it confirms what a lot of people may have suspected: New Jersey property taxes continue to skyrocket, despite much talk over the past few decades to stop the highest-property-taxes-in-the-nation trend (see map below).

NJ 101.5 compiled data showing property taxes increased by more than $700 million across the state in 2016, the most in six years. The average residential property tax bill had a $196 increase, or a 2.35 percent jump to $8,549, according to the report.

The taxes jumped 2.35 percent, despite a 2.0 percent cap law signed by Gov. Chris Christie in 2010, and the tax levy increased 2.54 percent statewide, according to The Asbury Park Press.

Christie spokesman Brian Murray told the station that the rate of increase "is far below the astounding 7 percent-per-year tax growth New Jersey averaged during the decade preceding the governor’s arrival in office.”

Here is the map compiled by 101.5 - red means the property taxes jumped by more than 2 percent, and yellow means a 0 to 2 percent increase (green is an "average tax cut"). Click on the town to see how your property taxes compared between 2015 and 2016:

Get the full 101.5 report here.

Patch file photo