New Gopal Bill Simplifies, Increases Efficiency of Senior Freeze

OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Last week, Senator Vin Gopal introduced a bill converting the senior freeze reimbursement program into a credit-based program, with a goal of simplifying and lowering the costs of administering the program.

“New Jersey’s Senior Freeze is a poster program for empathetic, accessible, and meaningful taxpayer relief,” said Gopal (D-Long Branch). “Even successful programs, however, have overhead costs and red-tape obstacles. By transforming the Senior Freeze from a reimbursement program to a credit program, we can make sure that eligible recipients can more easily obtain their refunds while reducing taxpayer expense for its administration.”

This bill would transform the senior freeze program from a reimbursement program into a credit program for most eligible homeowners. Currently, eligible seniors and disabled persons may apply for a senior freeze benefit that reimburses them, by check, for any property tax increases paid in the prior tax year over and above the amount of property taxes paid in the applicable base year. This bill would allow most of these eligible homeowners to realize these savings in the form of a credit directly applied to their property tax bills. This bill would simplify and lower the cost of administering the senior freeze program.

Eligible homeowners who reside in a unit in a cooperative, mutual housing corporation, or continuing care retirement community, and who do not pay property taxes directly to the municipality, would receive a rebate payment instead of a credit directly applied to their property tax bills.

The bill is sponsored in the Assembly by Assembly Members Eric Houghtaling (D-Neptune) and Joann Downey (D-Freehold).

Senator Vin Gopal represents New Jersey’s 11th Legislative District in the State Senate, where he works to make the Garden State more affordable for its hard-working residents. The 11th District includes the Monmouth County municipalities of Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Colts Neck, Deal, Eatontown, Freehold, Freehold Township, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Long Branch, Neptune City, Neptune, Ocean Township, Red Bank, Shrewsbury Borough, Shrewsbury Township, Tinton Falls and West Long Branch.