Lakewood township committee today will vote for the 2024 budget that will have a tax increase of $8 million dollars over last year.
In sum total, the average new duplex homeowners' property tax bill will see a $695 annual increase, according to faanews analysis.
The total tax levy for the municipal budget will be $87,031,508.98. The new tax rate will be $0.7807. the budget is $160 million
The township committee blames tax increases on necessary salary increases and make no mention of millions lost via tax abatements they give out. the committee raised their own salaries this year by $20,000 and gave out tax abatements of 7 million dollars. The taxpayers of Lakewood will be the ones paying for it.
This increase is also despite assemblyman Avi Schnall and Bob Singer who said they have successfully secured $7 million in state budget funds for Lakewood. Why this money did not offset any tax increase has not been explained.
Lakewood's Township Committee this past year granted short and long-term tax abatements to 29 new commercial buildings around town. This resulted in a loss of over $6.88 million in tax revenue for this year alone
the meeting takes place 5:30pm on zoom. The public can not attend the meeting as it is not in parson but can log in to the zoom meeting or send a email during the meeting as a public comment via comments@lakewoodnj.gov
App reports Lakewood Township residents will see an average municipal tax hike of $220 next year -- twice as much as this year’s increase after the committee votes to approve the proposed $159.4 million municipal budget. Officials blamed much of the increase on staffing and salary increases, as the township population and demand for services has grown.
Faa reports In total taxes for the average Duplex in Lakewood will increase by Year-over-year, the total increase will be $695, of which $309.96 will go to the municipal budget, $11.54 will go to the school budget, $61.18 will go to the fire budget, and $311.69 will go to the county budget.
Township committee blames tax increases on necessary salary increases and make no mention of millions lost via tax abatements they give out. The part time committeemen have meetings once a month via zoom only for an average of 10 minutes. Officials always say they get phone calls at 3am and work round the clock.
Heres how much the township committee increased their iwn salary which resulted in higher taxes on poor lakewood residents.
Early this year Lakewood township committee increased their salaries a 4th year in a row this time by $20,000 after raising taxes on Lakewood residents by over 4 million this year alone.
The Mayors salary went up from $88,000 to $108,000. It was $71,000 in 2021 and in 2018 it was $34,00. Members of Township Committee salary increased from $73,500.00 to $93,500.
The deputy mayor salary is $88,250 from $68,250 last year
The average resident in Lakewood is not being represented.
ReplyDeleteThe township committee primarily caters to connected askanim, mosdos, developers, and a few select businesses. This needs to change to a government that represents all citizens from every part of town.
Resolving a token issue on "Ask the Mayor" is not enough. Most of the township committee's time is spent getting things done for those with connections, while little is done to improve the lives of the average citizens.
If the committee position weren’t treated like a lifetime appointment but instead as a term-based role, as it was meant to be, we wouldn’t need to pay such high salaries. Local people from specific wards would do it as a side responsibility for a few years and would be willing to do it for little compensation. This job was never meant to be a career.
ReplyDeleteWhy is Cedar bridge development still on the township property rolls Even buildings already sold and no longer belonging to cedarbridge development and not paying any taxes?? If they would taxi the bridge development it alone would cover any shortfall
ReplyDeleteLichtenstein and Miller are up for reelection this November.iys time to vote them out. There's a reason for term limits.
ReplyDeleteEhh..who is going to organize the campaign
Deletedo property taxes effect me as a HUD resident?
ReplyDeleteYes they do, because the landlord has to raise the rent so he can pay the extra taxes.
DeleteNot really, because the increase doesnt affect the HUD residents portion of the payment. HUD will be paying the increase.
DeleteHowever, if he wants to move to a different apartment, he may find that none of the available rentals are in his HUD-eligible range.
It doesn't as HUD will pay the difference as it's tied to your income and as long as it's low income HUD will pay.
DeleteYes. It's already almost impossible to find a HUD unit. Soon there will be no landlords left who are willing to rent at HUD rates.
DeleteThe VAAD in Ihr hatora has only the oilams interest in mind. Thank you VAAD for all that you do for us. Anyone have an address or name on the VAAD that I can send a thank you letter? Kindly post.
ReplyDeleteWhy is Avi Schnall silent about this money grab
ReplyDeleteThis is his constituents getting their money taken away from them.
He went to Trenton to fight for Lakewood
He's busy with fake videos about tuition in Washington something he has nothing to do with
Shocking the fake news media of Lakewood won't report about the tax increase to protect their corrupt buddies
ReplyDeleteNo body cares
DeleteNo one cares about what is being done to Lakewood residents
The action of the leadership is what the neviim lamented before the churban how the rich take advantage of the poor
Woe to us that those who speak up are silenced
So how c/should we avoid the coming destruction
Delete