For the third year in a row Lakewood residents are facing a property tax increase. This coming Thursday the Township committee will vote on the 2025 Budget which has a 12% increase over last year adding $10.2 million for the municipal budget portion alone. Not including county school or fire tax. This comes after the mayor and committee raised taxes last year for an additional $8 million (They gave out abatements valued at $7 million)
Taxes raised last year from Lakewood homeowners for municipal services was $86 million going up this year to $97.2 million. The total municipal budget is $159 million. Additional funding comes from revenues and government grants.
Separately, the school tax is another $118 million from Lakewood taxpayers.and there's a county tax too. Altogether, the full budget totals $298 million.
The combined tax rate for municipal, county, and school (not including the fire tax) is 2.592 The total assessed value of taxable properties in Lakewood is $11.6 billion.
How much will average homeowner pay?
Assessed Home Value: $400,000
2025 Tax Breakdown:
Municipal Tax: $3,372
County Tax (incl. library, health, open space): $2,368
School Tax: $4,104
(Based on $88 increase over 2024)
2024 Tax Breakdown:
Municipal Tax: $3,196
County Tax: $2,292
School Tax: $4,016
Total 2024 Taxes: $9,504
Total Tax Increase (2025 vs. 2024):
$9,844 – $9,504 = $340
Review of the budget
Lakewood Township 2025 Municipal Tax Budget
Total Municipal Budget (General Revenues & Spending): $159.4 million
This includes everything the township plans to spend on local government services (police, public works, administration, etc.).
Raised Through Local Taxes (Municipal Portion Only): $97.2 million
Up $10.2 million from last year (2024: $87 million) Increase of 11.8%
This is the amount being raised directly from Lakewood taxpayers for municipal services.
Tax Rate (Municipal Only) 0.843 per $100 of assessed value (Up from 0.799 in 2024)
This means for a home assessed at $400,000:
2024 Municipal Taxes: $3,196
2025 Municipal Taxes: $3,372
Increase: $176
Other Major Components of Your Tax Bill:
(Not part of the municipal budget, but included in your total tax rate)
County Taxes: $68.3 million
School Taxes: $118.4 million
Special Districts (e.g., EMS, fire, etc.): $14.3 million
Total Taxes Collected from Lakewood Residents in 2025: $298.1 million
(This includes municipal, school, county, and special taxes)
1. Municipal Tax
2025: $97,232,076.27
2024: $86,988,430.57
Increase: $10,243,645.70
Percentage Increase: 11.78%
2. County Tax (Total of all county levies)
2025: $68,257,605.02
2024: $62,498,322.47
Increase: $5,759,282.55
Percentage Increase: 9.21%
This includes:
General County Tax
County Library Tax
County Health
County Open Space
3. County Library Tax (Part of County Taxes Above)
2025: $5,748,365.60
2024: $5,263,343.28
Increase: $485,022.32
Percentage Increase: 9.22%
Total Increase (Municipal + All County Levies):
2025: $165,489,681.29 (combined municipal and county tax levy)
2024: $149,486,753.04
Total Increase: $15,992,928.25
Compared to last year, bringing the municipal portion of the budget to $97.2 million. The total municipal and county budget is $159 million. Additional funding comes from revenues and government grants.
Separately, the school tax is another $118 million from Lakewood taxpayers. Altogether, the full budget totals $298 million.
The combined tax rate for municipal, county, and school (not including the fire tax) is 2.592. The total assessed value of taxable properties in Lakewood is $11.6 billion.
Breakdown of the Lakewood budget 2025
Separately, the school tax is another $118 million from Lakewood taxpayers. Altogether, the full budget totals $298 million.
The combined tax rate for municipal, county, and school (not including the fire tax) is 2.592. The total assessed value of taxable properties in Lakewood is $11.6 billion.
Assessed Home Value: $400,000
2025 Tax Breakdown:
Municipal Tax: $3,372
County Tax (incl. library, health, open space): $2,368
School Tax: $4,104
(Based on $88 increase over 2024)
Total 2025 Taxes: $9,844
2024 Tax Breakdown:
Municipal Tax: $3,196
County Tax: $2,292
School Tax: $4,016
Total 2024 Taxes: $9,504
Total Tax Increase (2025 vs. 2024):
$9,844 – $9,504 = $340
2025 Tax Breakdown:
Municipal Tax: $3,372
County Tax (incl. library, health, open space): $2,368
School Tax: $4,104
(Based on $88 increase over 2024)
Total 2025 Taxes: $9,844
2024 Tax Breakdown:
Municipal Tax: $3,196
County Tax: $2,292
School Tax: $4,016
Total 2024 Taxes: $9,504
Total Tax Increase (2025 vs. 2024):
$9,844 – $9,504 = $340
Lakewood Township 2025 Municipal Tax Budget – Simplified Overview
Total Municipal Budget (General Revenues & Spending): $159.4 million
This includes everything the township plans to spend on local government services (police, public works, administration, etc.).
Raised Through Local Taxes (Municipal Portion Only): $97.2 million
Up $10.2 million from last year (2024: $87 million) Increase of ~11.8%
This is the amount being raised directly from Lakewood taxpayers for municipal services.
Tax Rate (Municipal Only) 0.843 per $100 of assessed value (Up from 0.799 in 2024)
This means for a home assessed at $400,000:
2024 Municipal Taxes: $3,196
2025 Municipal Taxes: $3,372
Increase: $176
Other Major Components of Your Tax Bill:
(Not part of the municipal budget, but included in your total tax rate)
County Taxes: $68.3 million
School Taxes: $118.4 million
Special Districts (e.g., EMS, fire, etc.): $14.3 million
Total Taxes Collected from Lakewood Residents in 2025: $298.1 million
(This includes municipal, school, county, and special taxes)
Total Municipal Budget (General Revenues & Spending): $159.4 million
This includes everything the township plans to spend on local government services (police, public works, administration, etc.).
Raised Through Local Taxes (Municipal Portion Only): $97.2 million
Up $10.2 million from last year (2024: $87 million) Increase of ~11.8%
This is the amount being raised directly from Lakewood taxpayers for municipal services.
Tax Rate (Municipal Only) 0.843 per $100 of assessed value (Up from 0.799 in 2024)
This means for a home assessed at $400,000:
2024 Municipal Taxes: $3,196
2025 Municipal Taxes: $3,372
Increase: $176
Other Major Components of Your Tax Bill:
(Not part of the municipal budget, but included in your total tax rate)
County Taxes: $68.3 million
School Taxes: $118.4 million
Special Districts (e.g., EMS, fire, etc.): $14.3 million
Total Taxes Collected from Lakewood Residents in 2025: $298.1 million
(This includes municipal, school, county, and special taxes)
1. Municipal Tax
2025: $97,232,076.27
2024: $86,988,430.57
Increase: $10,243,645.70
Percentage Increase: 11.78%
2025: $97,232,076.27
2024: $86,988,430.57
Increase: $10,243,645.70
Percentage Increase: 11.78%
2. County Tax (Total of all county levies)
2025: $68,257,605.02
2024: $62,498,322.47
Increase: $5,759,282.55
Percentage Increase: 9.21%
This includes:
General County Tax
County Library Tax
County Health
County Open Space
3. County Library Tax (Part of County Taxes Above)
2025: $5,748,365.60
2024: $5,263,343.28
Increase: $485,022.32
Percentage Increase: 9.22%
Total Increase (Municipal + All County Levies):
2025: $165,489,681.29 (combined municipal and county tax levy)
2024: $149,486,753.04
Total Increase: $15,992,928.25
2025: $68,257,605.02
2024: $62,498,322.47
Increase: $5,759,282.55
Percentage Increase: 9.21%
This includes:
General County Tax
County Library Tax
County Health
County Open Space
3. County Library Tax (Part of County Taxes Above)
2025: $5,748,365.60
2024: $5,263,343.28
Increase: $485,022.32
Percentage Increase: 9.22%
Total Increase (Municipal + All County Levies):
2025: $165,489,681.29 (combined municipal and county tax levy)
2024: $149,486,753.04
Total Increase: $15,992,928.25
The township's current average property tax bill for 2024 was $8,450, according to state records. That's above the Ocean County average of $7,593 and below the state average of $9,898.
The announced tax hikes do not include the Lakewood Fire District, which has not released its average tax hike but adopted a $14.4 million budget for 2025 that includes four new firefighters and represents a $2.1 million increase over its 2024 budget.
The announced tax hikes do not include the Lakewood Fire District, which has not released its average tax hike but adopted a $14.4 million budget for 2025 that includes four new firefighters and represents a $2.1 million increase over its 2024 budget.
compared to last year, bringing the municipal portion of the budget to $97.2 million. The total municipal and county budget is $159 million. Additional funding comes from revenues and government grants.
Separately, the school tax is another $118 million from Lakewood taxpayers. Altogether, the full budget totals $298 million.
The combined tax rate for municipal, county, and school (not including the fire tax) is 2.592. The total assessed value of taxable properties in Lakewood is $11.6 billion.
Assessed Home Value: $400,000
2025 Tax Breakdown:
Municipal Tax: $3,372
County Tax (incl. library, health, open space): $2,368
School Tax: $4,104
(Based on $88 increase over 2024)
Total 2025 Taxes: $9,844
2024 Tax Breakdown:
Municipal Tax: $3,196
County Tax: $2,292
School Tax: $4,016
Total 2024 Taxes: $9,504
Total Tax Increase (2025 vs. 2024):
$9,844 – $9,504 = $340
Lakewood Township 2025 Municipal Tax Budget – Simplified Overview
Total Municipal Budget (General Revenues & Spending): $159.4 million
This includes everything the township plans to spend on local government services (police, public works, administration, etc.).
Raised Through Local Taxes (Municipal Portion Only): $97.2 million
Up $10.2 million from last year (2024: $87 million) Increase of ~11.8%
This is the amount being raised directly from Lakewood taxpayers for municipal services.
Tax Rate (Municipal Only) 0.843 per $100 of assessed value (Up from 0.799 in 2024)
This means for a home assessed at $400,000:
2024 Municipal Taxes: $3,196
2025 Municipal Taxes: $3,372
Increase: $176
Other Major Components of Your Tax Bill:
(Not part of the municipal budget, but included in your total tax rate)
County Taxes: $68.3 million
School Taxes: $118.4 million
Special Districts (e.g., EMS, fire, etc.): $14.3 million
Total Taxes Collected from Lakewood Residents in 2025: $298.1 million
(This includes municipal, school, county, and special taxes)
1. Municipal Tax
2025: $97,232,076.27
2024: $86,988,430.57
Increase: $10,243,645.70
Percentage Increase: 11.78%
2. County Tax (Total of all county levies)
2025: $68,257,605.02
2024: $62,498,322.47
Increase: $5,759,282.55
Percentage Increase: 9.21%
This includes:
General County Tax
County Library Tax
County Health
County Open Space
3. County Library Tax (Part of County Taxes Above)
2025: $5,748,365.60
2024: $5,263,343.28
Increase: $485,022.32
Percentage Increase: 9.22%
Total Increase (Municipal + All County Levies):
2025: $165,489,681.29 (combined municipal and county tax levy)
2024: $149,486,753.04
Total Increase: $15,992,928.25
The township's current average property tax bill for 2024 was $8,450, according to state records. That's above the Ocean County average of $7,593 and below the state average of $9,898.
The announced tax hikes do not include the Lakewood Fire District, which has not released its average tax hike but adopted a $14.4 million budget for 2025 that includes four new firefighters and represents a $2.1 million increase over its 2024 budget.
APP Reports: Officials Cite Population Growth as Reason for Budget Increase
Officials attribute the recent budget increase to the demand for services needed to accommodate the booming population growth. To meet this demand, the municipality will be hiring 55 new personnel.
Most of these new hires will be added to the Department of Public Works, with 27 new positions, as well as 15 new police officers and other staff members, as reported by APP back in June.
However, the big question remains: Where did all the money go? The influx of new construction was supposed to bolster the tax rolls and help keep taxes lower, but instead, they’ve been significantly raisedby over $1000 on average in the last two years.
As a result, the municipal tax increase will total $300 for an average home assessed at $364,896.
This increase is in addition to the Lakewood School District’s proposed tax hike of $88 per home, as well as the Lakewood Fire District’s pending per-property estimates, which have yet to be released.
Officials state that much of the budget increase is due to salary and wage hikes, most of which are mandated by union contracts, as well as the rising costs of healthcare.
- There will be a public meeting on zoom only to vote on the budget at the begining of the Township meeting this Thursday
Lakewood township officials and the media have remained quiet and not announced the tax increases that will be hitting homeowners deep in their pockets.
See full proposed budget HERE
Let the township committee continue to hide behind zoom meetings while we get major tax increases . Is the ere any accountability to us to r taxpayer ???
ReplyDeleteThere is, to the majority, that continue to vote them in.
DeleteSo can we finally admit that building new homes does not help the tax rolls like many have promised.
ReplyDeleteBuilding new homes does help the tax rolls since it adds more Revenue than expenditures it is cheaper to serve more than less proportionately. However when you give out Free land and abatements to friends that costs everybody( and that is only the shtick we know of). If you strip away the corruption it will be obvious that it's cheaper. This is not a new idea every municipality tries to increase the tax rolls to lower expenses proportionately for everybody.
DeleteWhat right does manager have to hire another 55 workers
ReplyDeleteThis should be put out for a referendum to the public
Township committee salary going up for in 2025 budget by $35,000. That would be a $7,000 raise each. Township committee benefits going up by $34,000. $70,000 more for the five clown who hide at home behind their laptops.
ReplyDeleteBuilding new homes clearly do not lower taxes for anyone. I'm hearing that it would for over thirty years and it has never happened. (Thirty years ago the argument was why don't the non-Jews love us building up Lakewood. We pay taxes and don't use the school system so they make so much money off us. Antisemitism is the only reason they don't want us to build...)
ReplyDeleteWhere's Avi Schnall
ReplyDeletewhere's the Lakewood vaad
where's the Igud
Where's the local media
they should be screaming from the rooftops at this they of people's money
They should call for the immediate firing of all township workers who approved this
MAYOR COLES YOU FAILED LAKEWOOD PLEASE STEP DOWN. MENASHE AND MEIR FOLLOW SUIT AND RESIGN ASAP.
Why do they do the meetings only on zoom?
ReplyDeleteHow come no supposed 'news' site are not all posting thios or writing about this?
ReplyDeleteBecause they are corrupt and paid off
DeleteTlS won't have any breaking exclusive stories from Ray Coles and Menash if they post the truth or anything that makes the mayor and corrupt committee look bad
Don't expect anything better from the voice
We are living in a olam Hasheker right here in the Ihr HaTorah
The Shopper wrote about it a couple weeks ago
DeleteThe school tax that 95% of residents don't go to and is bankrupt seems like the biggest fraud in history
ReplyDeleteTHe BOE that owes 150 mil+ to the state that gets the can kicked down utnile the state says no more. How do we pay it back? With much higher taxes. This is really out of control. No taxes without representation !! Stop representing special interests many who dont even pay taxes!!
ReplyDeleteOur community uses the public school system in a very big way All our special needs children education gets paid through the public school system at 100k a child... It more than explains the deficit in the BOE
ReplyDeleteBOTTOM LINE: They continue to get voted-in year after year.
ReplyDeleteLogical arguments mean nothing. You don’t like them, vote them out!
You can't vote them out they are glued with chains to their seats.
DeleteEvery year before election the powerful people in Lakewood who benefit financially from the corruption pull out the daas Torah cards and bully the sheep to vote for the incumbents while they keep stealing money from poor families as they enrich themselves off the taxpayers.
There will be a din vecheshbon after 120 for all those who had a part in this stinking corruption and theft of public funds
If , we, the opposition would put up better candidates, there would be more of a chance of winning. We need qualified, dignified, knowledgeable candidates. We haven't been able to do that yet so it's been easy for the powerful people, who are currently running the show, to convince the sheeple to keep voting the same people in again and again. It's up to us!
DeleteSchool taxes all over NJ go up cause State aid (that's Gov Murphy and his Demoncrats) give most State education aid to Abbott districts Newark Paterson Trenton JerseyCity etc.
ReplyDeleteAssemblyman Schnall couldn't help if he even wanted to.
The State Senate and Assembly can override the Abbott decision if they wanted to (the Republicans try all the time) but the Demoncrats won't let them. Did Schnall even try to lobby them to override Abbott?
How much allocated for street reconstruction?
ReplyDeleteHow much for Rt 9?
How much for services to the public (as opposed to insiders and employees, and I don't mean garbage collection, etc,)?
I feel no sympathy. Majority rules. This is obviously what the oilem wants, otherwise they wouldn't vote for it. It seems that people are happy to pay extra so others don't have to pay at all.
ReplyDelete