A MESSAGE FROM OUR CCMT STEERING COMMITTEE (PROPERTY TAXES)
TO: Concerned Citizens of Monroe Township
FROM: CCMT Steering Committee
DATE: March 4, 2008
RE: 2008 Partially Revised Assessments
We have received a flurry of responses to our recent update. Thank you for your continuing support. We share your concerns and frustration over the fact that the amounts we had agreed upon, in the bargaining process with the Township, were not used as the final 2008 assessments which you received from the Assessor’s office in late January of this year. We have also heard your message that it is time to continue the path set last February when the CCMT initiated the law suit. But, your Steering Committee truly wishes to settle this issue amicably with the Township. So, we are making one final effort to extend the olive branch to the Mayor and other Township officials who can bring this to closure, if they choose to.
We directed our attorneys to meet with Monroe Township’s professionals to get a full explanation of what occurred. That meeting took place on Friday, February 29, 2008.
A few of you that have not been at our meetings have asked why we are continuing to pursue this issue. After all, most CCMT members received a meaningful reduction in their property taxes. The Township even extended the reduced assessments to every home in the CCMT communities, even though many of those residents did not contribute to the CCMT effort. From the Township’s perspective, they argue that most homeowners should be happy that the Township reduced our assessments; and, that those assessments are finally based on the published assessment percentage for the Township. Unfortunately for us, the reduced assessments were based on the 2007 assessment percentage, instead of the lower 2008 percentage that had been consistently offered to us, and which we finally agreed to accept. So the Township’s position essentially amounts to saying something along the line of, “yes we offered to give you $2,000 of relief, but you should be happy with the $1,600 that we gave you.” This amount is just an example, and every home is different; but it makes the point.
After we instructed our Attorney to accept the Township’s offer, we received a packet of data from the Township Attorney which contained the Assessor’s 2008 assessments for every home in the CCMT communities. We recognized immediately that this data was not what the CCMT had agreed to accept. Our Attorney immediately contacted the Township Attorney and informed him of the “apparent error”. We were assured that the “error” would be investigated. However, the Assessor did not change anything; and the 2007 assessment percentage became the basis for the 2008 assessments that were distributed to each homeowner. At the time, we felt that we had been the victim of a well orchestrated strategy on the part of the Township. And, we felt they had never intended to live up to the offer which they had presented several months before. That is why we instructed our Attorney to meet with the Township Attorney and Assessor and get the true story. Despite the serious negative feelings we had about the whole process, we continued to attempt to work with the Township to achieve a fair resolution to our inequitable property taxes. As you continue to read, you will see that this whole issue might have been resolved amicably some time ago.
At the February 29th meeting, the Township professionals acknowledged that they did in fact offer to resolve our dispute by reducing the assessments to reflect fair market values that were agreed upon, to be multiplied by the 2008 assessment percentage to be published on October 1, 2007. Throughout the summer of 2007, we had tried to finalize the agreement by suggesting the use of various estimated percentages based on trends and the Township’s true average percentage of assessments. All of those attempts were rejected by the Township tax assessor, who would only agree to apply the actual 2008 assessment percentage when it was published. When the 2008 assessment percentage was published, in October of 2007, we agreed to the use of that actual percentage. The assessor, however, was not advised that we had accepted the use of the 2008 percentage, and he prepared new 2008 assessments at higher amounts that he believed were within reason, using the 2007 assessment percentage.
When we agreed to accept the Township’s earlier settlement offer, the assessor still was not made aware that we had agreed to use the 2008 assessment percentage. Therefore, he made no adjustment for it and left his previously calculated, higher assessments in place.
In the meeting of February 29th, we again extended the olive branch. We have made a final attempt to resolve this dispute by offering to the Township professionals a mechanism whereby the 2008 assessments would be adjusted further to reflect the offer originally made by the Township’s professionals. They are discussing it in meetings among themselves, and have said that they will respond next week.
If a settlement does not occur, our chances of winning the revaluation lawsuit have increased greatly due to the Township’s new coefficient of deviation, which measures whether the Township’s assessments are fair and consistent. The Township’s new coefficient of deviation is 16.67%, while the regulations and court decisions call for a revaluation whenever that number exceeds 15%. We are greatly encouraged by this development, although we remain willing to settle with the Township if its prior offer is carried through.
We are hopeful that the Mayor will agree to implement the Township’s prior offer. He has said publicly, in meeting with our communities, that he wanted to correct the unfair tax situation which he acknowledged does exist. If so, our members can expect to save a few hundred dollars more per year in their property taxes, putting our homes much more in line with the average tax liability of other homes in Monroe Township.
TALKING ON A CELL PHONE WHILE DRIVING
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - November 2, 2007 -- New Jersey motorists yakking on a hand-held cell phone or firing off text messages will soon run a greater risk of getting pulled over by a cop. Gov. Jon S. Corzine on Friday signed legislation giving police more authority to target drivers using hand-held cell phones, and making it illegal to send text messages while driving - distractions legislators contend make for risky driving.
RE: 2008 Partially Revised Assessments
We have received a flurry of responses to our recent update. Thank you for your continuing support. We share your concerns and frustration over the fact that the amounts we had agreed upon, in the bargaining process with the Township, were not used as the final 2008 assessments which you received from the Assessor’s office in late January of this year. We have also heard your message that it is time to continue the path set last February when the CCMT initiated the law suit. But, your Steering Committee truly wishes to settle this issue amicably with the Township. So, we are making one final effort to extend the olive branch to the Mayor and other Township officials who can bring this to closure, if they choose to.
We directed our attorneys to meet with Monroe Township’s professionals to get a full explanation of what occurred. That meeting took place on Friday, February 29, 2008.
A few of you that have not been at our meetings have asked why we are continuing to pursue this issue. After all, most CCMT members received a meaningful reduction in their property taxes. The Township even extended the reduced assessments to every home in the CCMT communities, even though many of those residents did not contribute to the CCMT effort. From the Township’s perspective, they argue that most homeowners should be happy that the Township reduced our assessments; and, that those assessments are finally based on the published assessment percentage for the Township. Unfortunately for us, the reduced assessments were based on the 2007 assessment percentage, instead of the lower 2008 percentage that had been consistently offered to us, and which we finally agreed to accept. So the Township’s position essentially amounts to saying something along the line of, “yes we offered to give you $2,000 of relief, but you should be happy with the $1,600 that we gave you.” This amount is just an example, and every home is different; but it makes the point.
After we instructed our Attorney to accept the Township’s offer, we received a packet of data from the Township Attorney which contained the Assessor’s 2008 assessments for every home in the CCMT communities. We recognized immediately that this data was not what the CCMT had agreed to accept. Our Attorney immediately contacted the Township Attorney and informed him of the “apparent error”. We were assured that the “error” would be investigated. However, the Assessor did not change anything; and the 2007 assessment percentage became the basis for the 2008 assessments that were distributed to each homeowner. At the time, we felt that we had been the victim of a well orchestrated strategy on the part of the Township. And, we felt they had never intended to live up to the offer which they had presented several months before. That is why we instructed our Attorney to meet with the Township Attorney and Assessor and get the true story. Despite the serious negative feelings we had about the whole process, we continued to attempt to work with the Township to achieve a fair resolution to our inequitable property taxes. As you continue to read, you will see that this whole issue might have been resolved amicably some time ago.
At the February 29th meeting, the Township professionals acknowledged that they did in fact offer to resolve our dispute by reducing the assessments to reflect fair market values that were agreed upon, to be multiplied by the 2008 assessment percentage to be published on October 1, 2007. Throughout the summer of 2007, we had tried to finalize the agreement by suggesting the use of various estimated percentages based on trends and the Township’s true average percentage of assessments. All of those attempts were rejected by the Township tax assessor, who would only agree to apply the actual 2008 assessment percentage when it was published. When the 2008 assessment percentage was published, in October of 2007, we agreed to the use of that actual percentage. The assessor, however, was not advised that we had accepted the use of the 2008 percentage, and he prepared new 2008 assessments at higher amounts that he believed were within reason, using the 2007 assessment percentage.
When we agreed to accept the Township’s earlier settlement offer, the assessor still was not made aware that we had agreed to use the 2008 assessment percentage. Therefore, he made no adjustment for it and left his previously calculated, higher assessments in place.
In the meeting of February 29th, we again extended the olive branch. We have made a final attempt to resolve this dispute by offering to the Township professionals a mechanism whereby the 2008 assessments would be adjusted further to reflect the offer originally made by the Township’s professionals. They are discussing it in meetings among themselves, and have said that they will respond next week.
If a settlement does not occur, our chances of winning the revaluation lawsuit have increased greatly due to the Township’s new coefficient of deviation, which measures whether the Township’s assessments are fair and consistent. The Township’s new coefficient of deviation is 16.67%, while the regulations and court decisions call for a revaluation whenever that number exceeds 15%. We are greatly encouraged by this development, although we remain willing to settle with the Township if its prior offer is carried through.
We are hopeful that the Mayor will agree to implement the Township’s prior offer. He has said publicly, in meeting with our communities, that he wanted to correct the unfair tax situation which he acknowledged does exist. If so, our members can expect to save a few hundred dollars more per year in their property taxes, putting our homes much more in line with the average tax liability of other homes in Monroe Township.
TALKING ON A CELL PHONE WHILE DRIVING
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - November 2, 2007 -- New Jersey motorists yakking on a hand-held cell phone or firing off text messages will soon run a greater risk of getting pulled over by a cop. Gov. Jon S. Corzine on Friday signed legislation giving police more authority to target drivers using hand-held cell phones, and making it illegal to send text messages while driving - distractions legislators contend make for risky driving.
The law takes effect March 1. 2008
The State of New Jersey has just made driving while using a cell phone a primary offense. This means that a police officer can now pull you over solely because you were talking on the phone. This also includes text messaging ..
A conviction (or guilty plea) to this offense will be considered as a conviction/plea for "unsafe driving". While this is a no-point violation, it carries a $250.00 surcharge meaning that this ticket can cost anywhere from $380.00 - $439.00 for a first offense!!
Also, you should all note that this first use of "unsafe driving" has a secondary effect. When you get a speeding ticket or some other moving violation and you go to court to try and get it reduced, the prosecutor may offer a no point reduction to the "unsafe driving" provision. However, if you previously used on a cell phone charge, your no point fine will now cost well over $500.00. And, once you use this provision for the 2nd time, you must wait 5 years before you use it again. This means that if you burn a no point reduction on a cell phone you will be facing the likelihood of full points on all tickets you get in the 5 year waiting period.
Makes those $40.00 blue tooth headsets seem kind of cheap huh?
If I were you guys, I would expect a cell phone crackdown for a while now that this has gone into effect. With the NJ deficit you can bet they will want all of those $250.00 surcharges they can get their hands on.
WE SEND OUR BEST WISHES TO CAROL AND KIEVE KORTMANSKY
Carol and Kieve Kortmansky are delighted to announce the birth of their eighth grandchild, Ella Elizabeth, born on feb 29, 2008. From what I heard Ella Elizabeth is thinking about running for the HOA. Kieve is looking at the ByLaws to see if grandchildren are permitted to run for an HOA position. Kieve, instead of looking at the ByLaws could you please change Ella's diaper! Oh would I love to see this! Carol, please take pictures!!
PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB
Contest! Contest! Contest! The Digital Photography Club will be
meeting on Thursday, March 6th, from 4 to 6 PM in the Club House
Library.
Members- there will be a special topic competition on "Spring" and also
bring along as many as 3 extra images on any topic to be critiqued and
rated by our own Ed Bickel. Ed has a wealth of knowledge spending his
career in the photography field. Ed has graciously volunteered to
judge our images so take his advise and ratings in good spirit and
value his opinion. Please put your title and name on the back of your
mounted picture. Each photographer will be asked to talk about one of
his images. Non-members are welcome to see the judging.
See you there. Regards, Howard Wichansky
FOUND
I have a black nylon piece of fabric with steel or plastic rings about 5 feet in diameter, with tie strings, and a label that says “EZ Twist”. It was in my backyard last night. I believe it is probably something that might be used to cover furniture? The owner can call me at 732 521-4684. It is in my basement at the moment.
John Keane
A MESSAGE FROM ONE OF OUR RESIDENTS
I am the Committee Chair of the Speakers Committee of the Henry Ricklis Holocaust Memorial Committee, Monroe Township's Holocaust Committee. My father, Henry, started this program 25 years ago in Monroe Township, and I am pleased to try to continue the wonderful legacy he left me. One of his favorite projects was to go to high schools in the area and speak about the experiences he saw when he arrived at Dachau Concentration Camp with the American Army and "liberated" the camp survivors. Our Committee has recently contacted schools throughout the area, including Monroe Township where we have been welcomed for many years, to offer speakers to talk about their Holocaust experiences,whether as survivors of camps, liberators or children who were able to escape. My problem now - I am looking for liberators to speak to students. If you are a liberator or know someone who is, please give me their name and contact information so I might be able to have them talk to school students. As one teacher recently wrote to me "it's one thing to read of the Holocaust in a text book, but it's another to hear someone speak about their experiences". I can be reached at my home phone, 609-235-9372, or email, RhondaRicklisRothschild@yahoo.com
TRAVELING GOLF CLUB
The Regency Traveling Golf Club is hosting a golf outing at Cranberry Golf Course on April 22, 2008. The price is $70 per person. This includes lunch. Tee off time is 8am. Please contact me at GMollen@aol.com or at 732 656 7895 if you would like to join us.
PICTURES OF REGENCY RESIDENTS ON MY BLOG
My apologies to everyone who sent me pictures for the slideshow you see on my blog. I have been just a little busy of late and I haven't had a chance to add your pictures. Hopefully, I will find some time within the next 2 weeks to add new pictures plus some of the pictures I have in my files of residents at various functions. If you have a picture that you want added, just send it to me.
THAT'S IT FOR NOW
RON
THAT'S IT FOR NOW
RON
