Berkeley Mayor Wants State To Restore Full Homestead Rebate

BERKELEY TOWNSHIP, NJ - Mayor Carmen F. Amato, Jr. plans to ask the Township Council to pass a resolution calling on Gov. Murphy, state and Assembly leaders to bring back full funding for the state's Homestead Rebate program.

"Nearly 43 percent of our property taxpayers qualify for the Homestead Benefit program," the mayor said recently. "Many of our property taxpayers are seniors on fixed incomes and hardworking young families who rely on this credit to help make ends meet."

In 2017, the state legislature and former Gov. Chris Christie deferred half of the Homestead Property Tax Credit until the start of the new fiscal year, which begins on July 1. But the proposed 2018-2019 budget calls for $12.5 million less in funding for the program, Amato said.

Under last year's budget agreement, this year's proposed budget should fund the second half of last year's credit, along with an additional year of full funding for the program, he said.

Berkeley has 9,755 properties that qualify for the rebate program, almost half of the properties in the township, and the third highest amount of homeowners that qualify behind two other Ocean County towns. Amato said.

"The average credit is about $400 per home," he said. ""I understand the State's fiscal difficulties. Although we have made tremendous progress, with the 27th lowest overall average property taxes out of the States 565 municipalities and our recently improved Bond rating to AA-, we are still feeling the financial impact of Superstorm Sandy. This cut would have a negative impact on our homeowners," Amato said.

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