Average Bloomingdale Municipal Tax Bill to Increase $53

The average Bloomingdale taxpayer's municipal taxes will increase $53 this year due to the council approving a $7.5 million tax levy this week.

The tax levy, the portion of the budget funded by local taxes, is part of the borough's nearly $10 million 2013 annual budget. 

Of the average $53 increase, $13 of it is directly caused by tax appeals that were filed in 2012, said Councilman Ray Yazdi, chairman of the council's budget committee. The appeals were filed because of a revaluation of property values conducted in 2011. 

The average municipal tax bill is about $2,500.  

The council approved the budget 4-2. Council members Linda Shortman and Mark Conklin voted against the budget.

Last year’s tax levy was more than $7.6 million. The budget comes in at about $11,000 under the state-mandated 2 percent increase cap.

The increase is "the lowest we've had in years," Councilman Ray Yazdi previously said.

The average home is assessed at $254,000. The average property assessment decreased by more than $1,000 from 2012. The amount of assessed tax ratables decreased by more nearly $3.7 million since last year.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story stated that the average municipal tax bill would increase $66.