Triple-Whammy Tax Hike Lurks For Montclair Homeowners: See The Numbers

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Montclair homeowners are facing a triple-whammy tax hike this year from a combination of school and municipal levies.

In New Jersey, local property taxes are mainly composed of three parts: municipal (town), school, and county.

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Town administrators broke down the numbers in a post on the municipal website, using figures for an "average homeowner" with a property assessed at $641,700:

• TOWN AND SCHOOL ANNUAL BUDGETS – The Montclair Township Council and the Montclair Board of Education passed their annual budgets earlier this year. Each spending plan includes a tax increase for local homeowners. An average homeowner will see their municipal taxes rise by $160. The same homeowner will also see a $847 increase to the school portion of their taxes.
• SCHOOL REFERENDUM – Homeowners will also have to reach into their pockets to begin paying for an additional, one-time school tax. Voters approved the tax in March's special election. The average homeowner will get a $558 bill in 2026, and the remaining $558 will be billed in 2027.
• COUNTY TAXES DOWN – On the flip side of the coin, Montclair residents will get a break on their county taxes this year, which decreased by $25 for the average homeowner, town administrators said.

Township Manager Stephen Marks recently penned a letter to taxpayers, reporting that it was a "challenging year" for the local government.

"I don't think it would shock many people that Montclair has the 13th highest residential property tax burden among 564 municipalities in the state of New Jersey," Marks wrote. "In fact, the average residential property tax bill in Montclair in 2025 was $22,487."

Unfortunately, fiscal realities this year do not make matters any better, he added.

Marks recommended that local residents look into three state tax programs: ANCHOR, Stay NJ, and the Senior Freeze.

More information about each program can be found online here.

TAX BILLS DELAYED

The third quarter property tax bills are being delayed in Montclair.

The township issued the following advisory about the delay on Monday: "Property tax bills for the current quarter, which are normally due on August 1, have been delayed because the township is awaiting certification of the 2026 tax rate. The township cannot calculate final tax amounts or issue tax bills until the certified tax rate is received. Once tax bills are mailed, the standard 10-day grace period will be extended. We understand this delay may be an inconvenience and appreciate your patience. Updates will be posted on the township website as additional information becomes available. Thank you for your understanding."

• Related: Montclair School, Town Budgets Get Green Light (See Local Tax Impacts)

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