Manasquan Joins Property Tax Fight Against Verizon

Manasquan on Monday joined forces with Hopewell, in Mercer County, in its fight against Verizon to continue receiving property tax payments from the telephone service provider. 

Verizon Communications recently notified nearly 200 towns across the state, including Manasquan, that since the provider covers less than 51-percent of landlines in those towns, by state statute it no longer had to pay property taxes to the muncipalities. 

Hopewell, however, continued to bill Verizon, which took the borough to court and won, officials said. 

On Monday, Manasquan's Borough Council passed a resolution to join Hopewell, also being backed by the League of Municipalities, in an appeal of that decision. 

"We're hopeful that we'll be successful because not only will it affect us, but municipalities across the state," Borough Administrator Joe DeIorio said. 

Verizon paid Manasquan $17,478 in property taxes last year, according to the resolution, which authorized the borough to pay Hopewell $220 to join the appeal.

If the appeal is lost, Manasquan will lose roughly $17,000 in property tax revenue every year beginning in 2013, DeIorio said.