BLOG: Property Tax Appeal

The Borgata gives new meaning to the saying that “the house always wins.”

by: Anthony F. Della Pelle
6 Nov 2013
Every day thousands of disappointed gamblers leave Atlantic City with their wallets a little lighter. For most, this makes for a long ride out of town. After a Tax Court ruling earlier this month in favor of the Borgata, Atlantic City officials may wish to take a long ride out of town. As far as... Read More

Hilton Hotel Assessment Reduced Following Trial

by: Anthony F. Della Pelle
21 Oct 2013
In this commercial tax appeal involving a Hilton hotel, the taxpayer challenged the assessments on its property for the 2010 and 2011 tax years.  The subject property operates as a 355 guest room Hilton Hotel and executive conference center.  The standard method for valuing a hotel’s real property component is the income approach, which takes... Read More

NJ Supreme Court Finds Group Homes Tax Exempt

by: Anthony F. Della Pelle
30 Sep 2013
The New Jersey Supreme Court affirmed a decision of the Appellate Division to classify homes rented by Advanced Housing to provide normalized community living arrangements for developmentally disabled people as tax exempt under N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.6 for tax years 2002 through 2009.  Nine Bergen County municipalities argued the properties were not used for a tax exempt purpose,... Read More

So What Do Assessors Do With All That Income And Expense Information Anyway?

by: Anthony F. Della Pelle
9 Sep 2013
Thanks to a recent tax court decision, WPH Mount Laurel LLC v. Township of Mount Laurel, property owners and their attorneys will get a rare glimpse of what municipal tax assessors really do with all of that income and expense information they receive from taxpayers every year pursuant to the assessor’s requests under N.J.S.A. 54:4-34,... Read More

Despite Threat, Jersey City Reval Still Not Cancelled

by: Anthony F. Della Pelle
28 Aug 2013
Despite threatening to cancel the city-wide property revaluation in Jersey City, Mayor Steven Fulop has not followed through with any formal action to cancel the City’s first revaluation since 1988.  Fulop had voted against the revaluation contract in 2011 as a member of the Jersey City Council, at which time the revaluation company had a... Read More

Mayor Voting with His Feet: Selling house because his taxes are too high

by: Anthony F. Della Pelle
21 Aug 2013
The mayor of Egg Harbor Township is selling his home after a revaluation in his municipality caused his taxes to increase 60% to over $31,000.  The home was assessed in 2012 for $463,800, which equated to a market value of roughly $750,000.  The new assessment values the home at $1,100,400.  Currently five homes are on... Read More

Unreliable Testimony Dooms Taxpayer’s Appeal

by: Anthony F. Della Pelle
8 Aug 2013
Another New Jersey taxpayer recently saw its property tax assessment affirmed by the New Jersey Tax Court due to a failure to present evidence to overcome the presumption of validity given to the municipal assessment.  90 Riverdale, L.L.C. challenged its 2009, 2010 and 2011 property tax assessments of its property located in the Borough of... Read More

Valuing contaminated properties – “in use” or ”not in use”, that is the question. . . .

by: Anthony F. Della Pelle
31 Jul 2013
In Orient Way Corp. v. Township of Lyndhurst, the New Jersey Tax Court was confronted with the issue of valuation for local property tax purposes real property impacted by environmental contamination. This matter involved tax appeals for 2006 through 2008 on an old industrial property where the issue of contamination was undisputed. Also, undisputed was... Read More

Bergen County Hospital: Exemption Safe or on Thin Ice?

by: Anthony F. Della Pelle
15 Jul 2013
A recent opinion by New Jersey Tax Court Judge Christine Nugent concluded that a long-time Bergen County hospital could remain exempt from local property taxation, but directed further proceedings to determine if the exemption would, in fact stand.  The hospital, formerly known as the Bergen Pines County Hospital in Paramus, has been operated by a... Read More

“Faulty” Highest and Best Use Analysis Dooms Tax Appeal

by: Anthony F. Della Pelle
12 Jul 2013
In a recently published opinion, the New Jersey Tax Court reminded appraisers of the importance of the highest and best use analysis.  The case, Clemente v. South Hackensack, involved a challenge to the property tax assessment for tax years 2009, 2010 and 2011 on a building which houses the Clemente Italian Bakery & Deli, a... Read More